Conviction vs Standard or Preference

[musingsofacac]

Based on our other discussions, I do not get the feeling that you are really willing to respect other points of view.

I am sorry you continue to feel that way and I guess like other things I won't be able to change your opinion of me. I do respect the fact that other Christians have a different point of view on many issues. But that does not mean I have to validate those views.

As I have grown and been exposed to many different life experiences, my own and others, I have learned that I do not know everything. Neither do I have the ability to force someone else into doing what I want or believe.

I have changed my position on several things over the years as God shows me in his Word I am wrong. I don't hold to all the positions I did 20 years ago. There are some things in the Bible I hold soft positions on, because I think the Scriptural support is not as strong. But there are other positions that I personally believe are crystal clear. I realize other Christians may not feel it is as crystal clear, but I believe I need to stand firmly on what I see in the Scriptures as absolute truth.

I am a firm believer in personal free will. There are certain topics that you and I will never, ever see eye to eye on, and that's fine. However, you do not have the right to decide MY salvation or lack thereof anymore than I have the right to decide yours.

You know this is something I hear quite often when Christians with convictions disagree. I will never call someone's salvation into question for any other doctrine except if someone claims to be a Christian but does not believe these things:

1. There is one God, and one mediator between God and men - Christ Jesus
2. Jesus was God in the flesh
3. Jesus is the only way
4. Salvation comes only through the shed blood of Christ on the cross and his atonement for mankind - one must personally trust and believe that Christ died for their sins.

We may disagree on a whole host of other issues, but if someone believes these things I consider them to be my brother or sister in Christ. Just because I am might call your conviction or lack of conviction about something from the Bible into question, or strongly state my case, does not mean in anyway I am questioning your salvation.

If you believe these things(which I assume you do being on this board) then we are brother and sister in Christ.

I once was a hard core, IFB, KJV fundamentalist. Right up until I took my beliefs into my own hands and chose to undertake an extensive study on many biblical topics. I discovered that in many, many ways I was wrong. It was painful and eye-opening. Therefore, my beliefs grew and changed and yes, evolved into something less strident, less narrow-minded and latched onto the one thing in scripture that many Christians forget..."do unto others...". That doesn't mean only the saved, only the people in my church, it means EVERYONE. I think more can be done with gentleness and love than with strident rhetoric or attempts at legislation.

I was raised in IFB churches and still attend an IFB church today. I did attend a Plymouth Brethren church about 25 years ago. I have attended a few services at a friend of mine's Pentecostal church. I have been to some Southern Baptist churches. Do I think there are good Christian men and women in all these churches? Of course I do.

But I like you did my own questioning of the views I was raised with when I was in my early 20s. I came away with many differences from my IFB upbringing, but stronger in other areas after extensive Bible studies on several topics.

I changed on these beliefs I was raised with in IFB churches:

1. I was taught any church hierarchy or organization was unbiblical. I came to reject that teaching as unbiblical, the Bible never forbids hierarchy, but it does not command it either. So in my view a local church can willingly agree to submit to a "higher body" if they so choose. But then they can also separate from that body if they so choose.

2. I rejected the KJV only position after a long study on the history of the Bible. Today I use many translations, NIV, NASB and others.

3. After careful study of music I rejected the anti-CCM position I was raised with. I love Casting crowns and will be going to an upcoming concert.

4. After a careful study of tithing, I came to see it was never commanded for the NT church and that giving is to be sacrificial and voluntary.

5. The no going to movies and dancing stuff had no Scriptural support whatsoever.

6. I changed from a Dispensational Prophetic position(which all IFBs are) and came to the Historic Premillenial position of Charles Spurgeon.

But other things I researched that I was taught - and I came to believe them even stronger after my research.

So I agree we have to research everything we believe, I can honestly say I think I have done that. Am I done learning? Of course not. None of us ever are. But until I see Biblical evidence to change my Biblical convictions, they remain.

 

[Aviela]

I think the Bible has guidance apart from conviction but that the more and more we love God and grow in our relationship with Him, the more we are compelled / convicted to follow Him and the Bible.

I also think we can be convicted about more specific things etc and I think we need to weigh those convictions or what we think may be leadings of the Holy Spirit against what the Bible says. I think doing this helps us develop discernment. For instance if I feel compelled to give someone something or to start a conversation with a stranger etc...then I need to check those inclinkings with scripture. I think this in an important step since I've seen some claim the Holy Spirit leading them to do something but it was not gracious / compassionate and it did spiritual damage. It was done to control rather than really because it was God's leading.