Convictions Worth Dying For.

     It seems that a majority of "Christians" today do not hold too tightly to their convictions. They may hold to various beliefs and convictions, but are easily persuaded to compromise, lay these beliefs aside, or just remain silent. 
     I understand that there are some things that are personal, and we are not to judge another on these things (Romans 14:1-13). This is not what I am referring to. I am writing here about Jesus Christ, and our unwavering commitment to follow Him as Lord of our lives, no matter where it leads us, and how much it costs us.
     The Anabaptists of the sixteenth century are a little known group of people who grew out of the reformation. They followed Christ with an all out passion. Their property was confiscated, they were imprisoned, tortured, and put to death for their beliefs.
     What were these beliefs that meant so much to them? They believed that the scriptures were for them, that they were to be believed and lived out. They believed that the kingdom of God was within them, Christ was the head of the Church, not a city council or other form of human government. They rejected the notion that the consecrated bread became the body of Christ during communion. They saw the communion elements as symbolic of Jesus body and blood. They saw that infant baptism was not biblical. They believed that one was to be baptized upon a true confession of faith. They took the words of Jesus to love ones enemies quite literally. They went out as missionaries throughout Europe preaching repentance from sin and faith towards God, baptizing all who truly believed. Revival followed them. Multitudes embraced the message of the gospel and were baptized as a seal of their surrender to Christ.
     They were at odds not only with the Roman Catholic Church, but were also branded as rebels and heretics by the leaders of the reformation as well. It was Martin Luther himself who declared that they must be put to death for their rebellion against church authority. This did not discourage or stop them. They picked up their cross and followed Christ all the way, many of them to the death.
     We need the boldness and conviction that these Christians, and many others throughout history had. Many today are suffering untold horrors in other lands while we waffle and waver and remain silent, afraid to ruffle feathers and go against the current. We see so much worldliness in the church and do nothing. We follow along as we see a church fighting spiritual battles in the political arena. We have become materialistic, storing up treasures on earth instead of heaven. We know nothing of true cross bearing for the sake of Christ. The modern message of Christ has become so watered down and distorted, but most of us say nothing, sadly many of us do not even realize this is happening. 
     God, grant us the grace to stand for you! Wake us up and give us courage! May we hold firmly to Godly convictions, and change this world for you.
    

Doubtful things.

     But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats because he does not act from faith, for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
     Romans 14:23 (RSV).

     All of us have personal convictions that differ from person to person. Many of these things are what we would term non essential. In and of themselves these things are neither right or wrong, but because these things have become a matter of concience they become extemely important. The passage in Romans tells us that an individual who holds to his convictions, does not condemn himself by his actions, is blesssed, but one who violates his concience is condemned because he is not acting in faith.
     Like I said, we all have convictions. Sadly for many of us we hold these convictions, but do not live by them, we go against our concience daily until it no longer convicts us of sin. Many Christians do not experience the close fellowship with God that they once did. Many have lost the joy of their salvation. I think that giving in to doubtful things is one of the little foxes that destroys the vinyard of our salvation.
     This was one of the themes of the Welsh revival of the early 1900's. Evan Roberts urged revived Christians to hold to their convictions. If they had doubts about anything they needed to avoid that thing, for the sake of Christ. Charles Finney also urged Christians not to sin in doubtful matters. He devoted a lecture in his "Lectures to Professing Christians" to this topic. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth as well, urging them not to put a stumbling block in the path of another. An individual who's concience is bothered by what he sees another doing, can make shipwreck of his faith if he does the same.
     This is an important issue that is rarely preached on today in this me first anything goes world. Hold to your convictions, be faithful in the doubtful things, and look out for each other, not wanting to hinder anyone from walking with Christ!

Be true to your convictions.

     The example of Daniel, and his three Hebrew companions, put many to shame in this age when having firm convictions does not seem to matter very much.
     They were deported from Jerusalem and taken to Babylon, to be servants in the king's palace. They were immersed in the culture and religion of Babylon. Their names were changed in an attempt to wipe out any remnant of their godly heritage, the names given them were in honor of the gods of Babylon. They were chosen to be wise men, enchanters, and trained accordingly in occult practices.
     One would think that they would soon forget their God, and be conformed to the religious practices of everyone else around them. Instead they stood firm, refusing to eat food in violation of the Hebrew law, refusing to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's statue, choosing to be thrown into the fiery furnace instead. what is so amazing about this is the fact that they were still young boys! They were around twelve to fifteen or so, when they were taken captive.
     Sadly many adults in the church today have no solid convictions, or fail to hold to the ones they do. We see our youth go the way of the world instead of the way of the cross, and wonder why. Television, movies, entertainment, the choice of friends etc. are all geared up to drag them into the world. In the small town that I live in, I see so many kids from Christian homes fall prey to drugs, alcohol, sex, and the occult. To be sure, many parents have done their best to raise them in a godly home, but I also see many that "waffle"  raising up their children. They seem to just let them go without any discipline, let them run with whomever, whenever, and all of a sudden they wonder what went wrong.
     It is vital that we as parents do our very best to raise the children that God has given us. We have a grave responsibility to see that they grow up to serve our Lord. We need to have our walk with God right if we expect them to walk with Him as well.
     The great men of faith in the bible stood firm in their convictions, and their God stood by them. Let as do so as well!