I've hear it from time to time.....
A "conviction" is something you NEVER change your mind about....
To which I often reply, sounds like STUBBORNESS to me....
Tell you what. Read the Gospels again and notice that no matter what Jesus did or said, there were people that refused to change because they thought they were right. The Gospel accounts are full of such situations....
Religious "conviction" or "dogma" is often nothing more than "stubborness" wrapped in being proud of "your" belief system.
Ask the Pharisee if his "conviction" ever got him anywhere!!!!
My question is....
How do we tell the difference?
(07-10-2017, 01:05 PM)praise_yeshua Wrote: [ -> ]I've hear it from time to time.....
A "conviction" is something you NEVER change your mind about....
To which I often reply, sounds like STUBBORNESS to me....
Tell you what. Read the Gospels again and notice that no matter what Jesus did or said, there were people that refused to change because they thought they were right. The Gospel accounts are full of such situations....
Religious "conviction" or "dogma" is often nothing more than "stubborness" wrapped in being proud of "your" belief system.
Ask the Pharisee if his "conviction" ever got him anywhere!!!!
My question is....
How do we tell the difference?
a true conviction will lead you to make decisions and take actions against your own will.... it will cause you to do things you might not really want to do.... especially when you would really rather do something else instead.... but you do that thing anyway and follow your conviction because you know it;s the right thing to do...... and you do it even if it humiliates you or hurts your pride..... pride plays no part in conviction..... in short it;s about obeying God and not worrying about what others think.....
stubborness generally follows it;s own will and does what it wants.... and causes a person to hold out for that thing it wants even when deep inside they know they are not in the right.... ... it puts up a facade..... and pride is almost always playing a major part in why the stubborn won;t change and do what is better or do what is right.... ...it;s all about how they think they will be seen.... though they will preach endlessly on how it;s all about pleasing God... the truth is the true God seldom enters into their thinking when they make their choices and take their stands.... ....the god they speak of pleasing is usually themselves.... and the pleasure comes from the pride and the boost they get to their pride from doing things to be seen by others ... and to be thought of by others a certain way.....
Yes, when I am "convicted" of something, it involves a change in my "modus operandi". Truth be told, I have been under conviction for "holding a grudge" against a family in our church. I started praying for them, and have made progress, but I knew that I was not yet delivered. God brought more conviction. He sent a guest preacher to our church. He preached on forgiveness...and it was a powerful message. And then I heard Janet Parshall's program tonight: Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary, is it clear?
Is it true...yes. Is it kind...no. Is it necessary...probably not. Is it clear...at this point, does it really matter?
And I'm back in my prayer closet!
(07-25-2017, 01:02 PM)aleshanee Wrote: [ -> ] (07-10-2017, 01:05 PM)praise_yeshua Wrote: [ -> ]I've hear it from time to time.....
A "conviction" is something you NEVER change your mind about....
To which I often reply, sounds like STUBBORNESS to me....
Tell you what. Read the Gospels again and notice that no matter what Jesus did or said, there were people that refused to change because they thought they were right. The Gospel accounts are full of such situations....
Religious "conviction" or "dogma" is often nothing more than "stubborness" wrapped in being proud of "your" belief system.
Ask the Pharisee if his "conviction" ever got him anywhere!!!!
My question is....
How do we tell the difference?
a true conviction will lead you to make decisions and take actions against your own will.... it will cause you to do things you might not really want to do.... especially when you would really rather do something else instead.... but you do that thing anyway and follow your conviction because you know it;s the right thing to do...... and you do it even if it humiliates you or hurts your pride..... pride plays no part in conviction..... in short it;s about obeying God and not worrying about what others think.....
stubborness generally follows it;s own will and does what it wants.... and causes a person to hold out for that thing it wants even when deep inside they know they are not in the right.... ... it puts up a facade..... and pride is almost always playing a major part in why the stubborn won;t change and do what is better or do what is right.... ...it;s all about how they think they will be seen.... though they will preach endlessly on how it;s all about pleasing God... the truth is the true God seldom enters into their thinking when they make their choices and take their stands.... ....the god they speak of pleasing is usually themselves.... and the pleasure comes from the pride and the boost they get to their pride from doing things to be seen by others ... and to be thought of by others a certain way.....
(07-26-2017, 04:22 AM)lnf Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, when I am "convicted" of something, it involves a change in my "modus operandi". Truth be told, I have been under conviction for "holding a grudge" against a family in our church. I started praying for them, and have made progress, but I knew that I was not yet delivered. God brought more conviction. He sent a guest preacher to our church. He preached on forgiveness...and it was a powerful message. And then I heard Janet Parshall's program tonight: Is it true, is it kind, is it necessary, is it clear?
Is it true...yes. Is it kind...no. Is it necessary...probably not. Is it clear...at this point, does it really matter?
And I'm back in my prayer closet!
We all need help in this area....
The Lord knows I'm stubborn...
I do believe that we are often stubborn in the wrong things... .even when we think we are right about it... and call it a heartfelt conviction....
If its wrong..... then it might just be stubborness after all.
I use to be a Holy Ghost convicted tither that would never fail to miss paying his Tithe on time every week after I got paid on my gross income without ever filling it on my taxes.....
I realized one day. I was just being stubborn in someone's nonsense doctrine.
HaHa, Admin. I find your post quite funny! You used to be a "Holy Ghost convicted tither"? And now you're not? Goodness! You make it sound like "Holy Ghost" misled you for a time!
(08-08-2017, 10:22 PM)lnf Wrote: [ -> ]HaHa, Admin. I find your post quite funny! You used to be a "Holy Ghost convicted tither"? And now you're not? Goodness! You make it sound like "Holy Ghost" misled you for a time!
I imagine I'm much like anyone else. I've often thought that someone important's conviction should be mine own. I was just confused about who was really important.
Its often easy to confuse someone's opinion with what the Holy Spirit has to say about something. I once let others believe for me. I gave this up and began to study for myself. I found that I had replaced God's convictions with nonsense dogma of men.
One of the hardest things in this life to learn.... is the voice of God. To really separate what peers want for you, what you want for yourself and what God wants you to know/do. It takes time. Effort. It will ultimately cost you more than you ever imagined.
Stubbornness is part of our nature in Adam. A true conviction finds it origins in God. Not man. Not the devil. Not anyone else.
Those who truly seek God will find the difference. That's all I want for myself and others. Find it for yourself. Don't let anyone else believe for you.
I'm glad you explained what you meant! As I understand your post, you were not actually "Holy Ghost" convicted, although you thought so at the time.
This is a cautionary tale for all of us. If you feel convicted, measure that conviction against scripture. If it doesn't agree, find where your "conviction" is contrary to the will of God...and follow the will of God!