Personal Convictions

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Personal convictions that don't line up with the word of God appear to come from a weak conscience.

Originally Posted by Encryptus

I would say weaker understanding, but I know where you are coming from on this.

Basically those who would add extra-Biblical standards are like those forbidding to eat meat,which are the ones actually of weaker understanding.

So by extension those who have a deeper understanding of grace should be tolerant of those who impose extra-Biblical standards lest they cause them to take offense and backslide. Until they (the weaker ones) come into a full understanding of grace.

Well said Mizpeh.

Originally Posted by mizpeh

LOL,

Paul wasn't tolerant of those who IMPOSED extra biblical standards but he was tolerant of those who had personal convictions and kept them personal. Not only was he tolerant of those with personal convictions, he sought not to offend them.

http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...1&postcount=26

Finally we are getting somewhere and sticking with the topic. This has been my point since the beginning

[MissBrattified]

I think, Prax, that personal convictions may not come "from" God, as in a direct commandment. However, in our effort to please God and walk with Him, we have an understanding of our own personal and unique weaknesses, which the Word casts light upon. I think He can and does lead us in a path that helps us avoid pitfalls and overcome temptation, which for me might mean avoiding certain activities or behaviors that another can freely participate in. It may ultimately be based on MY human weakness, but God is the One Who will help me overcome that in any number of ways, including, but not limited to, avoiding a seemingly innocent practice.

I DO believe that God speaks to us individually. I KNOW He has spoken to me--about the silliest, smallest things, but yet it was something that had meaning for ME. Whether it had to do with my weakness or His strength, really doesn't influence the situation, or invalidate His communicating with me.

God doesn't have different laws and rules for different people--we ALL have to follow His Word. But He may require something of me that He may NEVER ask of you, and that's simple fact. What if God spoke to me about fasting for 21 days? Does that mean that He has a different law for me than you? Or that because it isn't written in scripture, "Thou shalt fast for 21 days", that it came from my own head or out of my own weakness?

The point that someone may have more personal convictions (extra-biblical) because of a weaker conscience is taken, and understood. Paul made that point himself. But that doesn't mean that communication with God didn't lead that person TO that conviction. It is possible that God understands they have a weak conscience, that eating meat will condemn them, and cause them to walk in defeat rather than victory. Imagine that--God understanding our personal weaknesses, and leading us to abstain from the things that will make us weaker in our walk, or that could lead us astray, when another, stronger person, would have no problem.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I think, Prax, that personal convictions may not come "from" God, as in a direct commandment. However, in our effort to please God and walk with Him, we have an understanding of our own personal and unique weaknesses, which the Word casts light upon. I think He can and does lead us in a path that helps us avoid pitfalls and overcome temptation, which for me might mean avoiding certain activities or behaviors that another can freely participate in. It may ultimately be based on MY human weakness, but God is the One Who will help me overcome that in any number of ways, including, but not limited to, avoiding a seemingly innocent practice.

I DO believe that God speaks to us individually. I KNOW He has spoken to me--about the silliest, smallest things, but yet it was something that had meaning for ME. Whether it had to do with my weakness or His strength, really doesn't influence the situation, or invalidate His communicating with me.

God doesn't have different laws and rules for different people--we ALL have to follow His Word. But He may require something of me that He may NEVER ask of you, and that's simple fact. What if God spoke to me about fasting for 21 days? Does that mean that He has a different law for me than you? Or that because it isn't written in scripture, "Thou shalt fast for 21 days", that it came from my own head or out of my own weakness?

The point that someone may have more personal convictions (extra-biblical) because of a weaker conscience is taken, and understood. Paul made that point himself. But that doesn't mean that communication with God didn't lead that person TO that conviction. It is possible that God understands they have a weak conscience, that eating meat will condemn them, and cause them to walk in defeat rather than victory. Imagine that--God understanding our personal weaknesses, and leading us to abstain from the things that will make us weaker in our walk, or that could lead us astray, when another, stronger person, would have no problem.

Thank you for this reply. On the issue of a fast...I don't really consider that in the same catagory as a personal conviction. Im talking about like some people believing it is wrong to use dice....but then saying "that's my personal conviction"

I would say for some people it would be wrong, but "wrong" in the sense that it is not a wise thing to do, not "wrong" in the sense that it's a moral requirement for us.
For example it is wrong for all of us to drink booze and get drunk. It is a sin because the bible says so.

On the other hand a person has a conviction about not going to restarauts that serve alcohol because he or she was an alcoholic before hand. I would say that is a personal conviction they have but that it's not necessarily a rule given by God for just that person. Probably more like what Paul was talking about as far as the meat is concerned and I would certainly never tell them they should not have such a conviction. However they should never expect me to have the same conviction.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Are you asserting that? This is my point, not so much from a weak conscience but that they are not from God as though God has different sets of laws or rules for different people

I agree with you that God doesn't have different rules for different people.

Prax wrote: 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

and this: Im talking about those things people thing are wrong to do or not do...that are a sin to do or not do that are not spelled out in the word.

Maybe I haven't been clear in some of my remarks. Your comments above are what I take issue with. Paul was fully convinced he could eat anything that God made while others felt it was wrong to kill and eat animals. So if someone ate meat because Paul said it was okay or because they saw Paul eating meat and not because they believed it was okay in the sight God to eat meat then they SINNED even though they were not disobeying a commandment of God. Personal convictions can affect our eternal destiny.

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

I don't know where personal convictions come from, but I had a personal conviction against wearing shorts when I was a teenager and that was before I became a born-again believer.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Oneness Man

I don't know where personal convictions come from, but I had a personal conviction against wearing shorts when I was a teenager and that was before I became a born-again believer.

Did you have ugly legs?

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Did you have ugly legs?

No, sure don't.

[Cindy]

I have a personal conviction that some people should never wear shorts. It frightens the children...............

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Paul was fully convinced he could eat anything that God made while others felt it was wrong to kill and eat animals. So if someone ate meat because Paul said it was okay or because they saw Paul eating meat and not because they believed it was okay in the sight God to eat meat then they SINNED even though they were not disobeying a commandment of God. Personal convictions can affect our eternal destiny.

If they believed Paul that it was ok and thus they ate, they were NOT sinning.

Anyways, this is about conscious. IT is not saying he is sinning against God.

A sin against God is to break His commandment. Paul tells us it is OK to eat those meats. It is not a sin against God. So in this case it's a matter of this persons conscious. IF he eats and doubts he causes himself to stumble. That does not mean God damned him to hell.

The beginning of the passage is about us condemning or judging others for eating or not eating meats. Of course If I condemn you because you just eat vegetables and not meat that will not send YOU to hell. If I go ahead and eat my meat in front of you and I know it offends you deeply Paul says it may cause you to stumble. Does that mean I can send you to hell? No, it does mean I can offend you and trouble you. That is why we call them PERSONAL convictions.

Here is the other issue, that they are personal and that they are based on personal views, one can get rid of their personal convictions too. If someone believes it's a sin to eat meats....but then through prayer and study he comes aware that this is NOT God's word and that we are liberty, changes his view, he no longer has that personal conviction.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Oneness Man

I don't know where personal convictions come from, but I had a personal conviction against wearing shorts when I was a teenager and that was before I became a born-again believer.

Did you believe they were wrong to do from a moral standpoint? Or wrong to do because you believed God was against them?