Convictions

Last week my small group read through Romans 14. It basically talks about how we all have personal convictions that God has given each of us. Some of them are very different than others ones, but we shouldn't expect people to live by our convictions. Believe it or not, this is something that God has been teaching me for a few months now. There are few convictions that God has laid on my heart that He hasn't laid on other people's. And honestly, I was expecting other people to live by them. I was in the mindset that because they were convictions that they were definites between right and wrong. But that wasn't the case. That's what God has been showing me. Just because it's bad for me doesn't mean it's bad for others. And just because it's right for me doesn't mean it's right for others. It's personal.

So...like I said, this is a lesson that I've been learning through my personal times with God and then we go to study this chapter and well...let's just say that I was speechless while reading it. I honestly tried so hard to plead my case with God while I was reading it. I was looking for something to back my opinion up. The only problem? There was nothing there. I was wrong, and dead wrong (at least on the issue of right and wrong). Through grace and some gently nudging while reading it over for the 3rd and 4th times I realized this and was most definitely put in my place.

I felt ashamed and felt really bad. How many relationships had I messed up because of my stubbornness and most of all my judgmental attitude towards people? I don't know, but plenty I'm sure.

But there was one verse that continued to stick out to me. "Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way." Romans 14:13

This verse confused me a bit. I know, sounds pretty simple.

Most people who either new me well from South Carolina and those who know me now and knew me when I first moved to Colorado can testify that I've changed at least a small bit. I'm not as conservative as I once used to be. There's nothing wrong with being conservative. I actually like it verses the other way, but that's just a preference. But I was so conservative it was definitely legalism. Since moving to Colorado a lot of my views, opinions and beliefs have been challenged. I'm glad. It's forced me to ask myself, "Why do you think the way you do? Why do you believe what you believe? Why do you act that way?j" With careful examination of these questions and the things that go along with it I have changed some of my opinions, but many of them have remained the same. Why? Because I really do believe them and feel very strongly about them.

I'm glad I feel strongly about them. I don't want to waver on the convictions that God has placed on my life and there are definite reasons why I feel the way I do. So...all that to say, I have tried harder than ever to reexamine most everything and look at it fresh and sometimes I have come back to right where I have started.

A lot of these convictions were actually stirred by the above verse in Romans. I don't ever want to be the person that gets in the way of the gospel or people's growth. I want God to work through me, not around me. Out of love for people, I want to help them, not hurt them. If there were someone who struggled with gluteny or was even just trying to lose weight and they needed help by not offering chocolate or dessert to them or having that as a temptation for them, we should do that. Not everything has to be spiritual. I have a couple of friends that don't watch any "R" rated films. I don't have that same conviction. But out of respect for them when I'm around them I shouldn't either and I shouldn't suggest it or tease them about it, telling them that they need to lighten up about it. I love them.

I think the thing that I am confused/don't get about all of this is why it doesn't happen all that often. I often feel like people want to tell me all about Romans 14 in the sense that I need to keep my personal convictions to myself and not put them on other people. Thank you. I am learning that lesson as we speak. And I'm truly sorry for doing that to all of you, I know I have. But what about the above mentioned verse about loving your friends/neighbors and helping them out when they have convictions that aren't your own? That's where I feel like I (or even other people similar to myself) don't get the same respect back. A lot of times people get laughed at for convictions that seem silly to other people and they get totally blown off. Why?

Paul was addressing both the criticized and the criticizer in this chapter. Both sides were guilty of wrongdoing, not just one side. I think there's a balance that needs to be addressed.