Personal Convictions

[Praxeas]

Where do personal convinctions come from? I was reading a poster talking about it being wrong to go against the or rebellious...as though God is the one that made them..

But if that were true that would mean God has different laws for different people and that would mean the bible is NOT our sole rule of faith, but that our faith can be arbitrary and be different from person to person

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Where do personal convinctions come from? I was reading a poster talking about it being wrong to go against the or rebellious...as though God is the one that made them..

But if that were true that would mean God has different laws for different people and that would mean the bible is NOT our sole rule of faith, but that our faith can be arbitrary and be different from person to person

Brother, I have 4 children. We have the rules that all of them must follow, and then there are specific things each one is allowed or not allowed to do based on their character, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Why would it be any different with God?

[CC1]

Prax,

I do believe one person can have "convictions" different from another and they be inspired from God.

For example I think a former dope addict might have to be careful about listening to the music that he listened to when he was getting high. There is a strong connection there that could cause him a stumbling block.

So for me to fondly listen to golden oldies from the good old 1960's may have a totally different spiritual implicaton than for that person.

I believe that person very well might have a God given "conviction" against listening to that music.

Of course in Pentecost historically the answer is just to ban outright for everybody anything that anybody might have a problem with or not be able to control or moderate!

[StillStanding]

If it's fun, I'm agin' it! (j/K)

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Where do personal convinctions come from? I was reading a poster talking about it being wrong to go against the or rebellious...as though God is the one that made them..

But if that were true that would mean God has different laws for different people and that would mean the bible is NOT our sole rule of faith, but that our faith can be arbitrary and be different from person to person

God does not force anyone to do anything. But we must have personal integrity. Personal convictions = knowing to do right, and doing the right thing anyway. We use to hear a lot about this even from people of the world. That is a man of integrity, or you can always count on that man keeping his word.

Sadly this is not true as much anymore in the world or the church.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Rico

Brother, I have 4 children. We have the rules that all of them must follow, and then there are specific things each one is allowed or not allowed to do based on their character, strengths, weaknesses, etc. Why would it be any different with God?

Why would it NOT be any different with God? Does the word of God say this is so? The thing is we are warned about comparing God to other things. How can we decide what God is like by making a comparison to ourselves? This is the fallacy that some of the Universal Reconciliationists fall into. They reason "God is like me or I am like God, so therefore if I would save everyone even Hitler then God must think like I do and thus it must be true"

The other thing is what you said here is simply not comparable to begin with. We are talking about Eternal things compared to temporal things. We are talking about heaven and hell issues compared to what you are talking about. Personal convictions are PERSONAL. They are from ourselves, not from God

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by CC1

Prax,

I do believe one person can have "convictions" different from another and they be inspired from God.

For example I think a former dope addict might have to be careful about listening to the music that he listened to when he was getting high. There is a strong connection there that could cause him a stumbling block.

So for me to fondly listen to golden oldies from the good old 1960's may have a totally different spiritual implicaton than for that person.

I believe that person very well might have a God given "conviction" against listening to that music.

Of course in Pentecost historically the answer is just to ban outright for everybody anything that anybody might have a problem with or not be able to control or moderate!

In your example, this is not necessarily a conviction from God, but a smart thing to do. It does not become a law unto himself that is a sin against God that others do not have to obey.

Rather it is a smart thing to do. It is a GOOD thing for him to do. It is the WISE thing to do. But that is far from making it a sin against God.

In your example it makes more sense though. But in talking about standards it just does not make much sense that God convicts some women to wear their hair up and others not to.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

God does not force anyone to do anything. But we must have personal integrity. Personal convictions = knowing to do right, and doing the right thing anyway. We use to hear a lot about this even from people of the world. That is a man of integrity, or you can always count on that man keeping his word.

Sadly this is not true as much anymore in the world or the church.

We can all know to do what is right by what the word says. Personal convictions are things NOT found in the bible but someone personally feels they are wrong and thus practices it or against it.

When we say those are from God and are salvational then what we have is a different law for different people and we have "the inspired word of God" external to the bible. That is a dangerous path to go down. The Mormons feel they have external revelation from God. The RCC also feels the same way

[scotty]

What about the rich man ?

Mark 10


17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

Is this not personal conviction ? He followed the commandments but Jesus addressed his weakness.

[Rico]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Why would it NOT be any different with God? Does the word of God say this is so? The thing is we are warned about comparing God to other things. How can we decide what God is like by making a comparison to ourselves? This is the fallacy that some of the Universal Reconciliationists fall into. They reason "God is like me or I am like God, so therefore if I would save everyone even Hitler then God must think like I do and thus it must be true"

The other thing is what you said here is simply not comparable to begin with. We are talking about Eternal things compared to temporal things. We are talking about heaven and hell issues compared to what you are talking about. Personal convictions are PERSONAL. They are from ourselves, not from God

Brother, God saves us as individuals, with our own strengths and weaknesses. I don't believe God uses a cookie cutter approach with us, other than the initial entry requirements.