Courage of Conviction...

July 8, 2009

“A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40.

In our society, the majority opinion is what is called the popular opinion. People tend to buy into the “strength in numbers” argument. While it may work for political elections, Christians can tell you that it does not work so well in other areas of life.

That is because we were not designed to go along with the majority. Yet, popular opinion tries to convince us to. The end result is a person afraid to speak out for fear of being unpopular. While many will bow to this fear, those walking in the Holy Spirit will not. The reason is that, like our Teacher has shown us by example, the majority is not always right. Secondly, God does not use the spirit of fear to quiet us. “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7.

If it were, then Jesus’ time would have been spent here on Earth agreeing with the Pharisees, who were greater in number. His example shows us that real truth sometimes comes up through one person against a multitude of others. The lesson that is taught is one of remembering whom you are truly serving, and how to have courage against the ones you are not. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. Always remember the enemy knows this line of thinking very well.

As humans, when we think of standing up against the majority, we think of days gone by where whites were segregated from blacks and we think of those who fought against it. Moreover, we know God was at work in that situation and those who fought back credit Him accordingly. However, that is one of the most positive extreme examples, and humans align with the extreme. Thank goodness people align with the extreme because it allows them to make change. God knew as much which is why the examples in the Bible seem so extreme. He is our Creator and knows how to talk to us. However, we become familiar with our own extreme examples, such as our historical ones like the defeat of segregation. At that moment we define our own expectations, and in the future, if we do not see the extreme example coming that we expect, we will let our guard down.

Knowing our guard is down; the enemy will not appear as extreme. He will appear as he usually does, the “wolf in sheep’s clothing”. The truth is that having courage to step forward does not always come in extreme situations, and disputes between Christians are a prime example.

The enemy has a primary goal in mind. If he can convince Christians to focus on the argument instead of bringing their positions to God, they will continue to fight. He works hard to disguise himself to keep this conflict going. Should one Christian realize they are falling victim to his attacks, they would turn back and correct the problem, and that is the last thing he wants. To accomplish his objective he throws the sins of self-righteousness, pride, and arrogance upon them. In this manner, the two fighting a battle have less of a chance to remember it is God whom they are both fighting for, and less of a chance to call out the enemy’s attacks to each other and work to end the fight. This way, one of the sides believes they are an enemy to the other, and the real instigator slips out the door. Even if one side accuses the other of allowing the “devil” to get to him or her, in this sense they are doing it in a judgmental fashion out of line with God’s word. Only the devil can convince you to fall and then blame the other side for allowing the devil to use them to get you to. And that is how he works, a true “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.

Christians have a hard time believing that the devil can use their actions and words against other Christians. Remember when Satan tempted Jesus in the desert he did it by quoting correct scripture that Jesus knew was taken out of context. And the devil will convince a Christian they are in line with a scripture and tell them to quote it in defense of themselves. The problem is that they have bought into self-righteousness and even worse, they are claiming to do it in God’s name.

Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is in there with the entirety of God’s word available to both parties, and when revealed through Him the context is sincere, just as Jesus quoted correct scripture in context back to Satan defeating his temptation. However, the usual human reaction is to ignore listening to the Spirit’s conviction, allow yourself to get defensive and act in self-rightouesness to prove how Christian you really are. This is a self-defeating prophecy for many reasons, the primary one being that self-rightouesness is a sin. At this moment, the focus is taken off of Jesus.

Victory in the battle comes from the ability to look back to Jesus and accept His teachings even if it means we have to admit we are wrong. Jesus did not need to prove His relationship with God to anyone. Why else would He spend more time with sinners than those who considered themselves righteous? He could have been self-righteous and debated with those who claimed to be truly in God’s name, but what good would that have done? Jesus, as the Son of God, knew how not to let the devil get a foothold, and debating with those who claim to know everything would have let good become wasted on the hardest of hearts. He knew where to go in God’s name, and it was not to those who would allow themselves to fall victim to pride and self-righteousness. God is aware whether or not you are working to please others, and that when you do you forget about Him, no matter what it is you are doing. “On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:17.

When we buy into the enemy’s argument, he knows his actions caused one Christian to judge another wrongly, but as the true “wolf in sheep’s clothing” that he is, he does not stop there. After this point, he goes to the Christian who was judged and whispers to them, “See you are not really a Christian. There are more of them than there are of you. They are the Christians, and see how judgmental they are being? It does not feel good to follow God does it? If they act this way, then maybe you are wrong for trying to be like them.” This is his “majority rules” argument. In turn, once again, the focus is taken off of Jesus. If the person feeling alone in their conviction would remember to look at Jesus, they would see that majority in no way rules. If it did, we would all be in a lot of trouble and subject to death from sin with no power of forgiveness.

Jesus faced a horrible majority that not only belittled His teachings, but led Him to a horrible death. In doing this, the enemy’s worst fear was confirmed. It was the One speaking out against the majority, and seeking the lost, that defeated him. Satan tried to tell Jesus that one man could not take on the sins of mankind with his “majority rules” argument. However, Jesus, as the Holy and Perfect Son of God, knew better. Satan lost that argument and sealed his own fate in the meantime.

Staying in line with your Teacher’s example means that you speak out in the toughest of circumstances including the times others are persecuting you in the name of God. If you are truly Spirit led and following God, then you have no fear that your conviction is wrong. “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me.” Psalm 56:4-5.

It is important to remember as Christians that we are to aspire to have a stronger relationship with God. There is a process going on between the believer and God, and when you act in judgment you allow the enemy to step forward and convince the judged to fall off of their walk with God because they are not worthy. “Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:1-4.

A “disputable matter” is something that you both are doing in the name of God but you are not in the same agreement on based on His word. Because we are not to judge on “disputable matters” based on God’s instruction, the enemy runs rampant trying to get us to. Falling victim to his attack allows for us to fall into the sins of self-rightouesness and pride. When those sins are committed among believers, we can all suffer for it. “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” Ecclesiastes 7:8.

Only Satan could convince true Christians to turn against each other. More often than not, the one who believes assuredly and voices their belief outwardly in judgment of another, is usually the one falling victim to believing they are in line with God’s word even though through their actions they are not practicing it. Satan has tempted them to believe they are in line with God’s word through their actions, as he tried to convince Jesus to do, and he is clouding the believer’s judgment so they will not apply the words that belong in the true context. However, our Teacher applied the right words in the context when responding to Satan in the desert, and we are to work to be like Him, rather than worrying about working to be popular and correct.

According to God, you are one in the Body of Christ. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:3-5.

The enemy’s temptations are so great, and to truly defeat him we need each other to do so. If the enemy did not know that fact, he would not be attempt to turn us against one another. In turn, God tells us to encourage and rebuke each other to keep us on track serving Him and defeating the enemy attacks. “These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority.” Titus 2:15. Instead of becoming defensive and aligning yourself with the self-righteous, it is better to allow pride to fall by the wayside. Letting go of pride is easy when you know you are truly serving God and no one else. In this way, you know you are working to serve Him because you have let go of your appearance to others. What truly matters is whom is following a Spirit conviction with no fear for the attack of any man. That is a confidence level that is beyond description, but Praise to God is available to all.

Before you engage in the “but I do more for God” argument, remember that God desires “mercy, not sacrifice”. Hosea 6:6. You can sacrifice all your time in His name for others, but if you are being unmerciful in your own life to someone else, then you are not in line with what He wants. Jesus clarified this for you. Out of the Ten Commandments which did He say were the greatest? "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:36-39.

What we think we know does not matter. We can spend millions of dollars on charities and many hours helping others in God’s name, but if you are acting unmercifully in your own life and standing in judgment of someone else, you are falling away from God’s message. The reason you are out of line is because God would not want you to act unmercifully to any one, even if you are working to show the world how giving you are. When you forget that point, you are attempting to fool the only One who matters, God. God knows what all you are doing, have done, and are not doing. And the person you are acting unmercifully to is one of His children also, no matter how many others whom you are helping in the meantime.

When you know something is out of line with God’s word, and that it is a Christian who is engaging in the act, you have a responsibility. Your responsibility is not to judge, but to come to them personally and try to reach them. If the person acts in judgment on what you are saying, rest assured that your own actions have been in line with God’s commands. "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 18:15-18.

Remember, as far as it depends on you individually, you are to live at peace with everyone. When you stand before God, you will face accountability for your actions. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18.

Let us all remember His words as a whole in these difficult moments. We are all different, but only one Holy Spirit dwells within us. He will let you know what to do in each situation, if you are asking for His advice and not taking the world in your own hands. Sometimes, we may not like the answer and we may have to admit we have fallen to an enemy attack. However, it is better to get back up and turn the focus on God, than it is to work to win a fight against someone else knowing it is the devil’s desire for you do so. “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:4.

Christians should hold each other to a higher standard, but just as God corrects those whom He loves, we should aspire to do so in a loving way just as our Teacher. Never let the enemy convince you that you are not on the same team. With the same Spirit dwelling inside of you clearly you are fighting for the same God. “Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.” Romans 14:13. What you may not see as an obstacle may be a very real obstacle to someone else. Believing that statement is false, is a refusal to look past yourself, and allows for self-rightouesness to set in.

Most of all remember the Holy Spirit’s true message.

It is not the ease of acceptance among men, but the courage of conviction to serve your God that matters most.