Should all convictions come from Scripture ?

[4boys4joys]

I would just like to hear some thoughts about the topic of where our convictions come from ?

Should they all derive from a principle or directive in God's word or is it OK to have some that do not direct back to scripture but would not go against it ?

 

[Dale-c]

Anything that does not have scriptural basis is a preference and not a conviction.
Anyone that has an unBiblical conviction has a bad and improper conviction.

It is fine to prefer certain things but unless they are scripturally required we should not say they are convictions and we should not expect others to follow.

 

[Mr.M]

Anything that does not have scriptural basis is a preference and not a conviction.
Anyone that has an unBiblical conviction has a bad and improper conviction.

It is fine to prefer certain things but unless they are scripturally required we should not say they are convictions and we should not expect others to follow.

You mean to say you don't have any MATHEMATIC convictions? I realize the Bible is completely void of Algebraic principles, nevertheless I do hold to many mathematic convictions. :wavey:

 

[Andy T.]

You mean to say you don't have any MATHEMATIC convictions? I realize the Bible is completely void of Algebraic principles, nevertheless I do hold to many mathematic convictions. :wavey:

I don't have any mathematic convictions. 2+2=4 is true regardless if I "feel led by God" that it isn't true. (Ever wonder when someone says they "feel led by God" that it might just be a bad case of indigestion?) Of course, even 2+2=4 is based on the Self-Revealing Creator God - who is the God of all truth, including mathematics.

 

[Dale-c]

don't have any mathematic convictions. 2+2=4 is true regardless if I "feel led by God" that it isn't true. (Ever wonder when someone says they "feel led by God" that it might just be a bad case of indigestion?) Of course, even 2+2=4 is based on the Self-Revealing Creator God - who is the God of all truth, including mathematics.

Very true.

 

[Mr.M]

I don't have any mathematic convictions. 2+2=4 is true regardless if I "feel led by God" that it isn't true. (Ever wonder when someone says they "feel led by God" that it might just be a bad case of indigestion?) Of course, even 2+2=4 is based on the Self-Revealing Creator God - who is the God of all truth, including mathematics.

God might be sovereign but the poster I was responding to required convictions to be biblical...mathematic convictions are NOT biblical.

Convictions are not exclusive to Christians my friend. Many unsaved have legitimate convictions. The problem with you and many is that you have functioned so little outside your tiny circle of associations that anything you cannot directly relate to your small frame of reference must not be so....foolish to say the least.

 

[Andy T.]

God might be sovereign but the poster I was responding to required convictions to be biblical...mathematic convictions are NOT biblical.

O.k. - I see. Then you and I are in agreement. I misunderstood where you were coming from. Sorry.

Convictions are not exclusive to Christians my friend. Many unsaved have legitimate convictions.

Only if they are based on biblical principles.

The problem with you and many is that you have functioned so little outside your tiny circle of associations that anything you cannot directly relate to your small frame of reference must not be so....foolish to say the least.

1. How do you know this about me - that I function so little outside my tiny circle? Where did you get this information? Do you know me personally? Have we met?

2. Why the vitriol towards me?

 

[Andy T.]

Mr. M, I guess I'm confused when you say "mathematical convictions are not biblical." If somone's mathematic conviction says that 2+2=5, then I agree that it is not biblical, because it is not based on truth. If their conviction is 2+2=4, then it is biblical, because it is true, and all truth is God's truth.

 

[Mr.M]

O.k. - I see. Then you and I are in agreement. I misunderstood where you were coming from. Sorry.

I am glad you recognize your error however, instead of finding yourself having to apologize next time I suggest less rashness and instead endeavor to read what someone has clearly responded to and you won't be such a fix.

Only if they are based on biblical principles.

Are you that naive that all convictions that are in the hearts of all men everywhere must some how be a "biblical conviction". Even the phrase you use "biblical conviction" should tell you something, that there are distinctions regarding TYPES of convictions...good grief man.

There is NOTHING in the Scriptures dealing with Algebra but many people have mathematic convictions. See, what you are talking about is a TYPE of conviction which is a "biblical conviction" and I am talking about "mathematic convictions". Let's take it a step further. There are "Engineering Convictions". When a bridge is engineered certain types of convictions are used by the engineers. They know that only certain types of structures will not function properly and at no time and in no place would they build such a bridge, that is called an "Engineering Convcition".

And here is one for you. It is a certainty that you never attempt to sit or walk on air unless of course you are mentally retarded or deficient in some manner. You operate on the conviction that you know with absolute certainty that you cannot sit or walk on air, hence you never attempt this (of course some fool will add they tried it once clowning around or to see what would happen and I would state well you saw and NOW you have such a conviction). That is a conviction you have and guess what? No where in the Bible is there any teaching about such an issue. Yours is a "Physical Conviction" dealing with the observable physical realities around you. (again please avoid the...well God is sovereign argument because first that isn't the question at hand, no one is challenging that and it fails to honestly answer the question).\

My friend, don't let the simple and obvious become your hangman

1. How do you know this about me - that I function so little outside my tiny circle? Where did you get this information? Do you know me personally?

2. Why the vitriol towards me?

I deducted from the obvious that you have a tiny circle and venture outside of it rarely or if you do you do not with the intent of being taught or learning from your alternate environment but have such strong prejudices toward your regular clique that such ventures are negligibly beneficial. I am confident in my powers of observation.

Vitriol toward you? Don't flatter yourself. My contention is with misinformation and the observation about you is a challenge to you from me to grow.

 

[Mr.M]

Mr. M, I guess I'm confused when you say "mathematical convictions are not biblical." If somone's mathematic conviction says that 2+2=5, then I agree that it is not biblical, because it is not based on truth. If their conviction is 2+2=4, then it is biblical, because it is true, and all truth is God's truth.

No it is NOT biblical because MATH like that is not covered in the Scriptures. It might be that it is reflective of divine order and design but my friend, it is NOT biblical because the BIBLE doesn't cover that.

 

[Andy T.]

No it is NOT biblical because MATH like that is not covered in the Scriptures. It might be that it is reflective of divine order and design but my friend, it is NOT biblical because the BIBLE doesn't cover that.

And the divine order and design is so because God created it so. And he has [specially] revealed himself through the Bible. So the way I see it, all math "convictions" should be based on the Bible (i.e., they should be true), whose author is the God who created mathematics.

Maybe that's where our disconnect is at - I agree that there are all sorts of "convictions" out there, but the intent of the OP was for moral and how-to-live-your-life convictions. And the question is should convictions be based on biblical principles? I think they should. I realize there are all sorts of convictions out there, but the question is what should they be based on?

And what is this about?

I deducted from the obvious that you have a tiny circle and venture outside of it rarely or if you do you do not with the intent of being taught or learning from your alternate environment but have such strong prejudices toward your regular clique that such ventures are negligibly beneficial. I am confident in my powers of observation.

Vitriol toward you? Don't flatter yourself. My contention is with misinformation and the observation about you is a challenge to you from me to grow.

 

[Mr.M]

Maybe that's where our disconnect is at - I agree that there are all sorts of "convictions" out there, but the intent of the OP was for moral and how-to-live-your-life convictions. And the question is should convictions be based on biblical principles? I think they should. I realize there are all sorts of convictions out there, but the question is what should they be based on?

And what is this about?

That is not what the OP asked, here is what that person asked:

I would just like to hear some thoughts about the topic of where our convictions come from ?

Should they all derive from a principle or directive in God's word or is it OK to have some that do not direct back to scripture but would not go against it ?

They said nothing about moral or how-to-live-your-life convictions. You obviously have added something they DID NOT say. I dealt with the question as it was asked.

And again, no, the Bible does not attempt to deal with every principle of all things that exist in the world. It is not an exhaustive manual on math, physics, and so on so the answer remains yes, we should and do develop convictions outside of Scripture. If for some reason you need the blanket thought that God is Sovereign ringing in your head every time you hold your breath under water so you don't breath it in and die because you live with the conviction that you cannot breath under water, well then have at it. Nevertheless, it doesn't make it a "Biblical" conviction, it is simply an observable reality not addressed in Scripture, hence it is not biblical. But have you magic incantation if you need the comfort of being able to always say...."See, I connected it in my mind back to something in the Bible and that makes it all okay." It is all okay anyway, God doesn't need superstitious Bible connecting of all thoughts for all beliefs to be okay and acceptable.

 

[Salamander]

Anything that does not have scriptural basis is a preference and not a conviction.
Anyone that has an unBiblical conviction has a bad and improper conviction.

It is fine to prefer certain things but unless they are scripturally required we should not say they are convictions and we should not expect others to follow.

I have a conviction not to play with a butcherknife in the middle of rush-hour traffic and that is not "Biblical"

 

[Andy T.]

Mr. M, I'll let the orginal poster clarify for us, if she would like. I'm willing to bet her intent was to discuss moral convictions and the like, not "physical convictions" like holding your breath under water. But even the fact that we cannot breathe under water is biblically-based, because God created it that way. In the end, I don't think our disagreement on this is that meaningful, even though you really want to "grow" me (thanks, anyways). All I'm doing is expressing it on a level that brings all truth back to God, and we know who God is through his special revelation, the Bible. Is there a problem in expressing it that way?

 

[Andy T.]

I have a conviction not to play with a butcherknife in the middle of rush-hour traffic and that is not "Biblical"

I'll probably be scolded by some for saying this, but yes, that is a biblical conviction, because God doesn't want us to do stupid things. Read Proverbs. All truth is God's truth.

 

[tinytim]

The problem is not what where convictions come from...
It is people having opinions and putting them on the same level as their convictions....

Now how do you tell the difference?
A conviction is something you would die for...
An opinion is something you would not die for...

IOWS...
concerning the versions issue...
Would you be willing to die if someone made you use another version of the Bible than you use? (I think I actually know some that would)
If so... that is a conviction..
If not... it is your opinion.

See the difference...

Everything we should be willing to die for should come from the Word of God.

Would I die for my right to play with a butcher knife during rush hour? Nope...
Would I die instead of renouncing Christ...Yes.

 

[Gwyneth]

The problem is not what where convictions come from...
It is people having opinions and putting them on the same level as their convictions....

Now how do you tell the difference?
A conviction is something you would die for...
An opinion is something you would not die for...

IOWS...
concerning the versions issue...
Would you be willing to die if someone made you use another version of the Bible than you use? (I think I actually know some that would)
If so... that is a conviction..
If not... it is your opinion.

See the difference...

Everything we should be willing to die for should come from the Word of God.

Would I die for my right to play with a butcher knife during rush hour? Nope...
Would I die instead of renouncing Christ...Yes.

:applause: :applause: :applause: AMEN TT

 

[Magnetic Poles]

Mr. M makes some fine points. I also would add that we get our convictions from many places...our parents, our society at large, our peer groups, our sense of fairness, etc.

 

[Dale-c]

Would I die for my right to play with a butcher knife during rush hour? Nope...

Actually Tim, I think you would stand a good chance to die if you used your right to play with a butcher knife while driving in rush hour traffic!



Seriously though, I do somewhat agree with this, but I don't think you have to be willing to die to have a conviction.
I believe it is a biblical conviction that I should protect my property but is someone catches me off guard and wants a $20 in my pocket or he will kill me, I will give him the $20 bill.
Doesn't change my conviction on theft and doing what I can to protect my property.

Sometimes we are forced to go against our convictions but we don't have to die for them.
Certainly some things we would die for but others we would not.

 

[John of Japan]

Here we are in a Baptist forum and no one has remembered the Baptist distinctive, "The Bible as the sole rule of faith and practice!" If you don't believe this you are not a Baptist in the historical sense! (You may call yourself whatever you want, though, some really weird Baptist church name that doesn't exist on the Internet, and maybe get away with it. :smilewinkgrin: )

A conviction is "a fixed or strong belief" (Microsoft Bookshelf 98 CD). Personally, I get my fixed or strong beliefs exclusively from the Bible. All else can change. Just look at any science or math book from a few years ago and compare it to one from nowadays. (1+1 is not always 2). Or just compare Freud (shudder) to anything modern. Or maybe dip into quantum mechanics just a little. Any of these very changeable human disciplines should send you fleeing back to the Bible for some unchangeable truth you can depend on.

The phrase "all truth is God's truth" is often used as an excuse to dilute Biblical truth with human "science," in particular in the realm of Christian psychology (as in Gary Collins and his "spoil the Egyptians" approach).

I'm out of here. Have to do some dendo (evangelism) and prepare for tomorrow. :type: