Today was an absolutely incredible day here in New England and as such, I wanted to make sure and spend some good quality time outdoors. So, I did. At least four hours worth. Spent chatting (since I can't be outside and NOT be around people) with some of my fabulous neighbors. Among many topics of discussion, both sublime and ridiculous, standards and convictions came up. Now I have been mulling some of these thoughts over for a long time, but it was nice to have a refresher of the subject and discuss it with good friends. The subject? Well you already know what it is. Personal convictions and standards.
When talking with non-Christians there tends to be an easier explanation for standards and convictions. In other words there is the ability to say to a non-Christian, "Hey I don't smoke because I'm a Christian" or "Hey, I don't live with my girlfriend [figment of the imagination for me personally] because I am a Christian". And they can question me further and I'll be glad to explain why I hold to those standards. Non-Christians may not understand the reasoning for why I'm making the choice that I am, but they respect the choice as my own and as a religious conviction.
The real dicey situation comes when you are trying to talk to a fellow Christian who does not hold the same standards or convictions. Now you can no longer say, "Hey I don't drink because I'm a Christian" and they will curiously ask questions for the benefit of greater understanding of you and your religious beliefs, and then leave you alone to practice how you feel God has led you. Instead they will question your standards and, sometimes, feel funny because they don't have those same standards. It's really sad but some Christians who are not big enough to understand God's greatness and His ability to lead some to adhere to a scriptural or personal standard, while at the same time not leading them in that same standard, try to undermine or question with a super critical spirit. Personally, I don't mind if believers question my own standards or convictions as long as it is not with a critical spirit/attitude and they are really trying to understand how God has led me. The other caveat which I allow is if a fellow brother or sister in Christ is really concerned that I may have missed something that God has shown me and are trying to help straighten me out (with humility and a gentle spirit). That is the ultimate beauty of the body of Christ! The ability to live in community and help and encourage one another. I never want to be accused of not listening to a fellow Christian and not adequately working something out between me and God. If I need to re-evaluate my standard or conviction, I will. The Holy Spirit is incredibly faithful when it comes to leading those who earnestly ask him.
Why do some Christians react so strongly to standards held by other Christians but not they themselves? I think there may be two answers. Of course, I may have missed some, but these are some of what I thought about. First, they feel downright guilty. They know they should be held to a higher standard of conduct and living and they don't want to hear you are holding to the very standard they know they should themselves cling to. Scripture admonishes us along this line in Romans 14:4-19. We as believers have to get our bearings from God and deal with the scorn or contempt of other brothers and sisters in the Lord. Secondly, I believe the enemy of our souls has used convictions as a petty wedge that has been used to further divide and splinter the body of Christ. What better use of pride or self-love than to condemn a fellow lover of Jesus simply because they are not like yourself? That is the very epitome of pride! Which we know God absolutely abhors!
So when you come upon fellow Christians who feel God has led them in a different direction than yourself, praise God for His ability to lead them and that they are sensitive to God's direction for their lives. Hey, you could even rejoice that they even adhere to standards as it seems many in the Evangelical church have abandoned them for the deceptively "greener" pastures of the world. The only way to break this vicious cycle is if we each can recognize the Holy Spirit's ability to lead others differently and remain sensitive to how the Holy Spirit is leading us personally. After all, our walk is before God, not men.
The picture was taken of one of my next door neighbors children last summer. I hope you enjoy!
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