Living by Biblical Convictions

Though I am not one who likes to quote a lot of people, there are some quotes that have been made throughout history that have helped give a profound perspective in my own life. The words of man pale in comparison obviously to every Word from God, yet that is not to say some women and men have not written or said anything of substance that can aid us in contemplating the realities of life.      I would like to share a quote that I have found through the years that I go back to and read, for it frames some things from time to time to me in certain moments of my life.

One of the things every Christ-follower who desires to faithfully obey Jesus or a Christian leader may face are the perspectives & responses from parents, friends, spouses or other Christians who may take issue with how one lives for Jesus or a conviction they may hold. 

Such is the certainty of following Jesus, for He told us this would mark our lives at times. 

On April 23, 1910 in Paris, France, Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech that is still being quoted today, as it still resonates with many who aim to live life focused on making a difference with their life…

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

For my life as a youth pastor, a missionary in another culture, and a lead pastor through all these years, I have at times not been understood, but I have always tried to speak from a place of conviction based in my understanding of the written Scripture. For those who love Christ, we have all found that loving Jesus brings about the turning of a head when we may express a conviction about our faith and this will continue to be the case. There is no exception to this truth, for a reading of Scripture reveals to us men and women who lived by God-centered convictions and they were persecuted, mocked, misunderstood, ignored, seen as a bit off or even martyred. 

Though Roosevelt was not referring to faith or Christian ministry, yet I have found perspective in his words and you may as well by picturing the one in the arena (in a world that does not know Christ), whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood as they attempt to strive valiantly by living and speaking the Gospel-truth. The critics will always be around peering at our lives and pointing out things that are likely true about us, but as His sheep, we must know His voice and let it be the lone one we care about.

In these days of Covid-19, there has been much scrutiny toward the church, its leadership, and influence in the culture and we need to be ready for more that may come from government, the culture, and even within the Western church.

Personally, this aim to know Christ and make Him know has led me to know the great enthusiasms, devotions and triumphs of the Gospel-centered life. The Christ-centered life is definitely not for those who have cold and timid souls, but it is for those who have become convinced to live by the convictions found in knowing the Holy Writ of God as the revelation of Christ for us. 

I want to now share some perspectives on what it means to Live by Biblical Convictions from some passages I have been contemplating on during these days of such dramatic change.

The Convictions of the One in the Arena

Be a Christ-follower…

1. Who is Controlled, has Concluded, is Convinced, & has Convictions

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

·      Controlled by the Love of God - For the love of Christ controls us,

·      Concluded that Love is Revealed in the Cross - that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

·      Convinced that His Death Demands Death to our old life - that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

·      Convictions to Live for Him, not Ourselves – that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

These 4 really important things call you and I who claim His name to live for Him in every kind of way. We are not to demand our rights, nor are we to affirm what does not honor Him for we know we have been bought by the blood of Jesus. 

Q: Which, if any, of the pieces of those 4 principles are not aligned right in our lives?

Be a Christ-follower…

2. Who Sees Proclaiming the Gospel as Greater than our Life

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Because Paul lived controlled by Christ, had concluded the Cross mattered, was convinced that he must die to self & lived with convictions to honor Christ in all ways – Paul did not see his life as so precious to hold onto it. He saw the telling of the Gospel as a greater joy than any life he could have constructed for Himself. 

Q: Which is more valuable to each of us – our life or the Gospel?

Be a Christ-follower…

3. Who Does not Shrink from Being Shaped by the Entire Counsel of God

Acts 20:27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 

Paul reminds them of his time with them when the church was founded in Ephesus, as his great aim among them was to make sure he held nothing back in his communication of the Gospel. What does he mean in this verse? Paul’s great longing was that as he pastored the Ephesian church, he wanted to hold nothing back in declaring to them the fullest instructions of everything God had already said and all that He wanted said to them. Why? The truth was the most loving thing that he could give them for in the Truth – they would know Him who is Truth and that relationship would set them free. 

This drives my life as I preach, wanting no one to ever miss out on the full knowledge of every Word, phrase, sentence, verse, chapter and book of the glorious revelation of Jesus. Every pastor I know who is guided by the mission of teaching the full counsel of God, has deep seated convictions about the church and the implications for the people he leads. He cannot do anything but declare them and make applications even though some may not understand the wrestlings of what comes with preaching Gospel convictions. 

This now leads to a fourth conviction…

Be a Christ-follower…

4. Who Loves & Guards the Sheep from Influences Without & Within the Church

Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you 

overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

It is only my opinion, but a passion in this area is lacking in and around the local church today. 

·      Leaders must guard their lives and the Flock

Why does the church need guarding? 

The fact that Paul speaks of the necessity of guarding the church means there are definitely some things that need to be a part of the church and for some things to be kept away from it. So, for the church to be guarded well, then the leaders have to know what to guard the church from and they need to have firm convictions on those matters based on an understanding of Scripture. 

Please notice this, the church needs guarding – All things are not to be allowed in the church.

From where is the church to be guarded?

            (1) Danger of Fierce wolves from outside the church 

This call from Paul is clearly a warning that says we are to be very aware of allowing anyone or anything that is too secular – in mindset, practice, philosophy or doctrine to take root in the church. It is why we point out the utter deficiencies of the world as any kind of answer for the church. We get enough of the world all week, it is therefore necessary for the world to be kept out of the church. Paul says be aware of the wolves who desire to devour the sheep.

            (2) Danger From those Within the Walls of the Church 

To protect the church, leaders must examine all things that are labeled Christian – books, movies, Christian music, denominations, doctrines & even churches to ensure a teaching could twist up a Gospel understanding that is true. From Paul, Peter & John -  we are warned to examine and test everything. This area is the greater danger and the NT proves this out, for Rome’s culture & secularism was not the greatest danger in the 1^st Century, it was the false belief, teaching, and doctrine that arose within the church that caused her to drift. 

This is why we must examine and be wise with everything that is called Christian and we should call it out when it is not and we should affirm when things are right with the church. Jesus gave us this example of examining churches in Revelation 2-3 where He affirmed the good & bad in the 7 churches & pointed out what needed to be addressed. Those churches serve us to understand the kind of churches that not only existed then, but they remain today. 5 of the 7 needed correction, not a good percentage!

·      Ephesus – enduring, did not tolerate evil and tested false apostles, but lost her first love

·      Smyrna – under great trial, poor, and a faithful church

·      Pergamum – held fast to his name, but some in the church embraced the teaching of Balaam and the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

·      Thyatira – a church marked by faith and endurance but tolerated a woman who encouraged sexual immorality.

·      Sardis – The church had a reputation of being alive, but it was dead.

·      Philadelphia – Marked by keeping the Word and not denying His name

·      Laodicea – the church was naked and lukewarm

Be a Christ-follower who…

5. Who Maintains a Love for Sound Teaching  

2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

A remnant will always be around & I believe it will always be marked by a passion for 

Gospel-centered sound teaching. They will also be known for rejecting teaching that enhances man-centered feeling & passions or the watering down of the Gospel.

In light of all of that, are we the ones in the crowd who point out the faults & weaknesses of those who are in the arena or are we the ones, who though we are not perfect, we know we are giving our lives to the most noble “cause” of all – the glory of Christ?

We must live by Biblical convictions.

   

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