Biblical convictions -vs- Personal convictions

[Pastor_Bob]

The older I get the more I am beginning to realize that some of the convictions and standards that were presented to me growing up among the ranks of the IFB were what I would call "personal" standards or convictions rather than "biblical" standards or convictions.

Here is how I would define these terms:
Biblical conviction - A conviction that is clearly taught in the Word of God. (Modesty, honesty, gentleness, etc.) These would lead to biblical standards of dress and conduct, all the while being supported by Scripture or scriptural principles.

Personal conviction - A conviction that the Holy Spirit impresses upon the heart of an individual but does not necessarily violate a biblical principle. (Not eating out on Sunday, not dining in restaurants which serve alcohol, not owning a TV, etc.)

Now, allow me to pose two questions:

1. Is it ever right to impose one's personal convictions upon another (non-family)?

2. Is it a sin for a person to violate his/her own personal convictions?

 

[Thinkingstuff]

The older I get the more I am beginning to realize that some of the convictions and standards that were presented to me growing up among the ranks of the IFB were what I would call "personal" standards or convictions rather than "biblical" standards or convictions.

Here is how I would define these terms:
Biblical conviction - A conviction that is clearly taught in the Word of God. (Modesty, honesty, gentleness, etc.) These would lead to biblical standards of dress and conduct, all the while being supported by Scripture or scriptural principles.

Personal conviction - A conviction that the Holy Spirit impresses upon the heart of an individual but does not necessarily violate a biblical principle. (Not eating out on Sunday, not dining in restaurants which serve alcohol, not owning a TV, etc.)

Now, allow me to pose two questions:

1. Is it ever right to impose one's personal convictions upon another (non-family)?

2. Is it a sin for a person to violate his/her own personal convictions?

1. I don't think so. I believe this is the line where legalism takes root.

2. In essense I believe it is. Some people have over developed sensibilities yet even so the extreme lifestyle Jesus calls us to is submission. And if we believe something is sinful then to us it is thus we must submit ourselves to God in order to be sanctified.

So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

7 But not everyone possesses this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled.

 

[webdog]

1. Is it ever right to impose one's personal convictions upon another (non-family)?

Yes, it can be. For instance, it's a personal conviction I am not to cheat on my wife and it is also a biblical conviction. Now if someone took their personal conviction of not getting a tattoo and tried to impose that on me, the answer is no.

2. Is it a sin for a person to violate his/her own personal convictions?

Yes if the conviction is biblical...no if it has been a man made conviction adhered to out of ignorance and the struggle with that continues due to it being a habit. I can see a woman coming from IFB feeling guilty on occasion wearing pants after coming to the realization it is not a biblical conviction, but having grown up with that "conviction" for decades it may be hard to break.

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

The older I get the more I am beginning to realize that some of the convictions and standards that were presented to me growing up among the ranks of the IFB were what I would call "personal" standards or convictions rather than "biblical" standards or convictions.

Here is how I would define these terms:
Biblical conviction - A conviction that is clearly taught in the Word of God. (Modesty, honesty, gentleness, etc.) These would lead to biblical standards of dress and conduct, all the while being supported by Scripture or scriptural principles.

Personal conviction - A conviction that the Holy Spirit impresses upon the heart of an individual but does not necessarily violate a biblical principle. (Not eating out on Sunday, not dining in restaurants which serve alcohol, not owning a TV, etc.)

Now, allow me to pose two questions:

1. Is it ever right to impose one's personal convictions upon another (non-family)?

2. Is it a sin for a person to violate his/her own personal convictions?

I like your definitions -- I think they are on track.

1. I don't think so. It's a personal (not Scriptural) conviction. Actually, I wonder if it's ever right to impose a Scriptural conviction on others, especially non-Christians. The true issue is the heart issue.

2. Good question. One might think so. However, if sin is defined by Scripture (not what WE think), then I don't know how something can be if not defined by Scripture.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

1. I don't think so. I believe this is the line where legalism takes root.

I have never experienced anyone making adhering to their personal standards a condition for salvation. I have, however, met some who would gauge another's spirituality on whether or not they hold to the same personal standards. I think this is a mistake.

2. In essense I believe it is. Some people have over developed sensibilities yet even so the extreme lifestyle Jesus calls us to is submission. And if we believe something is sinful then to us it is thus we must submit ourselves to God in order to be sanctified.

I agree with this.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Now if someone took their personal conviction of not getting a tattoo and tried to impose that on me, the answer is no.

There are many who might bump this one up to the "biblical conviction" category.

I do agree that there are some who have personal standards that they believe are firmly rooted in Scripture simply because that's what they have been taught all their lives and have never taken the time to study the issue for themselves. When they find them to be merely someone's personal standards, I do not think they should automatically throw them out the window; they should simply treat them for what they are - someone's opinion.

 

[ktn4eg]

I'd rather divide these two categories like this:

1. Conviction--This would be something that's based upon biblical truths (either expressly stated in God's Word or principles derived from the Bible), and, if necessary, I would be willing to die for.

2. Preference--This would be something that would [hopefully] be based on some Scriptural principle(s), but IMO wouldn't be worth dying for.

EX: I have a conviction on believer's baptism by immersion.

I have a preference about the style(s) of music I enjoy (either at home or in a worship service).

It is sad that a good deal of what passes as a conviction is in reality more of a preference.

 

[DHK]

I have a preference about the style(s) of music I enjoy (either at home or in a worship service).

It is sad that a good deal of what passes as a conviction is in reality more of a preference.

Music is controversial isn't it?
I have preferences of music in my home.
But I have definite convictions of music in a worship service in the church. You will not be able to move me on those convictions no matter how hard you try. They are not preferences; they are convictions.

 

[ktn4eg]

Music is controversial isn't it?
I have preferences of music in my home.
But I have definite convictions of music in a worship service in the church. You will not be able to move me on those convictions no matter how hard you try. They are not preferences; they are convictions.

I've got no problem with your having a conviction about music in a worship service in church....As long as you would be willing to die for it, that's fine with me.

 

[DHK]

I've got no problem with your having a conviction about music in a worship service in church....As long as you would be willing to die for it, that's fine with me.

I realize the definition that you have come up for "conviction."
I disagree with it. I have been in a nation where people die for their faith almost on a daily basis. If a Muslim converts to Christianity they immediately face a death sentence by their own family.

There are many convictions I have; not preferences but convictions. But that does not mean I am willing to die for them. There are some weak individuals that under stress could not stand up and bear the Savior's name under severe torture. Are you sure you could?

Remember Peter? I will never deny thee!

 

[Salty]

Biblical conviction - A conviction that is clearly taught in the Word of God.

Personal conviction - A conviction that the Holy Spirit impresses upon the heart of an individual but does not necessarily violate a biblical principle. (
Now, allow me to pose two questions:

May I add a third one?
Leadership Judgment Conviction
This conviction is passed on to new Christians as an absolute, though not specifically stated in Scripture as a sin- for example - Length of hair, women wearing pants, playing cards, movie attendance (even "G") and ect.
A Christian will often feel "convicted" because the Pastor said so. Usually one verse taken somewhat out of context or misapplied is the sole basis.

So would you agree that my third type of conviction exists? and to what extent?

 

[ktn4eg]

I realize the definition that you have come up for "conviction."
I disagree with it. I have been in a nation where people die for their faith almost on a daily basis. If a Muslim converts to Christianity they immediately face a death sentence by their own family.

There are many convictions I have; not preferences but convictions. But that does not mean I am willing to die for them. There are some weak individuals that under stress could not stand up and bear the Savior's name under severe torture. Are you sure you could?

Remember Peter? I will never deny thee!

I see your point.

I wouldn't be so presumptious to say ahead of time that I would never break under the stress of bodily torture for my convictions because so far I've never had to do so.

I would hope that God would give me the grace and strength to endure it if it comes to that, but until such a time actually comes to pass, that's all I can say about the matter.

My point is that I honestly believe that a lot of what people call a "conviction" is actually a "preference." (Or maybe as Salty put it a "Leadership Judgment Conviction.")

 

[preacher4truth]

The older I get the more I am beginning to realize that some of the convictions and standards that were presented to me growing up among the ranks of the IFB were what I would call "personal" standards or convictions rather than "biblical" standards or convictions.

Here is how I would define these terms:
Biblical conviction - A conviction that is clearly taught in the Word of God. (Modesty, honesty, gentleness, etc.) These would lead to biblical standards of dress and conduct, all the while being supported by Scripture or scriptural principles.

Personal conviction - A conviction that the Holy Spirit impresses upon the heart of an individual but does not necessarily violate a biblical principle. (Not eating out on Sunday, not dining in restaurants which serve alcohol, not owning a TV, etc.)

Now, allow me to pose two questions:

1. Is it ever right to impose one's personal convictions upon another (non-family)?

2. Is it a sin for a person to violate his/her own personal convictions?

I think it is good to share our personal convictions, but perhaps not to impose (thrust) them on others.

I think when we violate our own convictions, we condemn ourselves, we bring doubt upon ourselves in doing this, and we compromise our confidence before God.

When I moved to the Midwest from Ohio, I learned that shorts are wrong, movies are wrong, dancing is wrong, an alcoholic beverage is wrong, playing cards is wrong, "public bathing" (swimming) is wrong, "canned" music is wrong, "alien" immersion is wrong, pants on women are wrong, and many more things that are wrong. It became Pharisaical, really.

Then I saw my Professors from College engaging in these things, while in School, at the same time I was.

I never believed all these "rules" anyhow. They are the commandments and traditions of men, and of our culture. They are not eternal truth.

- Peace