Personal Convictions are not Church Dogma
Let the bible speak and for somethings have some grace.
All bible quotes not otherwise marked are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016)
There is a lot of debate amongst Christians on a lot of things that the bible is not at all clear on. We may even hold to these beliefs tightly enough to call them convictions. In other cases they are just opinions. Too many people these days are stating their opinions and their convictions as if they are dogma. Yet they do not have the biblical support to back it up.
First, let’s discuss how we know what the bible says. We must always read the bible in context. The culture of the times of course affects the meaning of words and sentences. We must also though not stretch culture to such an extent that we miss the plain meaning of a text.
Second, church history is nice and should perhaps be considered in the same way you’d consider the advice of a good friend. It’s not the inspired word of God. If we have been misinterpreting a passage for a thousand years then we need to change. We should though if going against the long history of the church be really really cautious. We should dot our i’s and cross our t’s. We should pray a lot about it. We should check and recheck our work. We should consult learned advice. Yet after it’s all done if the text still says something we cannot ignore it. Our loyalty must always be to the bible first.
Third, when reading the bible we should take what it says as absolute truth but we must be careful that some of the conclusions we extrapolate from the text may be more opinion or conviction than absolute truth. Application can be tough sometimes because we cross many centuries between the cultures. We all should be humble about it.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
This is a popular verse. Many children’s programs like Awana use it. We all want to study God’s word and be read to give a defense.
1 Peter 3:5
always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you
When I say what I am going to say I just want to make it clear that I am absolutely on board with studying the bible and being ready to defend the faith.
I am concerned here with other aspects of knowledge and how it is used.
2 Timothy 2:16-17
16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene.
We should avoid irreverent babble. What is irreverent babble? It’s being contentious over things that are opinions.
The church needs to focus on the essentials but when Christians disagree on non-essentials there needs to be more grace. We have many denominations. Most of them are filled with believing Christians. Even some that I think get their doctrine wrong in major ways. I don’t go to church with them but if they are fellow believers in the same body of Christ I should show them some respect.
For example, I believe the bible teaches immersion in water for baptism. I think sprinkling is unbiblical. If a faithful believer gets sprinkled and is serving the Lord, I am not going to badger them about that view. If we are friends and there is a high level of trust, I have no issue discussing it in love.
Another issue I see today is when we agree on a principle but differ on where we draw the line. This could range form what forms of entertainment we consume to what we eat and drink. I know faithful Christians who don’t take very good care of themselves. Could they do better? Yes. Could I do better? Yes. So why is my line okay and their’s is not. Perhaps I should leave that to personal decision making.
Let’s look at a passage in Romans…
Romans 14:12
12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
We each one will give an account to God. On all of these things were we differ, we are going to give an account. We are all going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It’s not that things don’t matter at all. It’s that we are going to personally have to justify why we did things.
Romans 14:13-19
13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. 16 So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
First. We are not to pass judgment on a brother. The context here has to be these things that lead some to stumble. Why? Because Paul himself passes judgment on people who subvert the major doctrines. Like the gospel.
Galatians 1:8
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
The gospel is something we don’t want to mess around with as it leads to life. So what is the Romans passage talking about?
It’s talking about all of these things we have opinions about but aren’t major doctrines. Paul says don’t judge your brother when he or she disagrees.
Paul also says we are not to grieve our brother. If a brother is offended by something and we know it offends him then we should avoid doing it around him. He then is admonished to accept that we do it and not judge us. That is how you handle these situations. Don’t be a busybody about other people. Don’t throw your own views in other people’s faces when you know they disagree. This will only put a stumbling block in front of them. We do not want to hurt their walk with the Lord. If they are convicted about something then they should not do it.
Romans 14:22-23
22 The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Notice that for the person who is convicted about something for them to do it is sin. We should not encourage people to violate their convictions. We should explain our position and leave it. If they are still convicted then to do it would be sin for them even if not for us.
We should focus instead on helping people draw close to God. By prayer, bible study, and fellowship with other Christians, a person will be led by God on their own path. Their own mission for Christ. We need to make sure we keep the good stuff going into our minds and let God do the work of conviction on stuff involving opinion.
Of course on major doctrines and clear moral teaching, the church has to get involved in discipline as it should. Let’s just not confuse the two.
Thank you for reading. There will be more God willing. I love you all. I pray God blesses your mission.