{"id":12655,"date":"2016-10-11T01:00:45","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T08:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lighthousebc.com\/beacon\/?p=12655"},"modified":"2016-10-11T03:34:41","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T10:34:41","slug":"men-hold-opinions-but-convictions-hold-the-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lighthousebc.com\/beacon\/2016\/10\/11\/men-hold-opinions-but-convictions-hold-the-man\/","title":{"rendered":"Men Hold Opinions, But Convictions Hold the Man"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Pastor James Lee<\/em><\/p>\n

As a junior at UCLA, I read Roland Bainton\u2019s classic biography on the life of Martin Luther. It affected me deeply, and it still does. My favorite entry describes April 1521 when a humble, yet fearful monk named Martin Luther when ordered to recant replied, \u201cThis touches God and His Word. This affects the salvation of souls. Of this Christ said, \u2018He who denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father.\u2019 To say too little or too much would be dangerous. I beg you, give me time to think it over.\u201d<\/em> Granted a clemency by the emperor, he was given one more day to think it over. With the anguish that only true integrity can bring, Luther famously responded the next day, as it has been passed down to us, to the command to recant by replying, \u201cUnless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason \u2013 I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other \u2013 my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against my conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.\u201d<\/em> What about us? Are our minds captive to the Word of God today? Is our response to our Lord\u2019s will, promises, and commands, \u201cHere I stand, I cannot do otherwise?\u201d<\/p>\n

Luther was a man of conviction! And because he was a man of conviction, he was also a man of great humility, passion, zeal, energy, and impact. Eric Liddell, whose story was told in the movie Chariots of Fire,<\/em> was the real-life Scottish runner who distinguished himself by refusing to race on the Lord\u2019s Day during the Olympics. He was a man of conviction. When the martyr Chrystodom was brought before the Roman emperor, the pontiff threatened him with banishment if he remained a Christian. Chrystodom replied, \u201cThou canst not banish me, for this world is my Father\u2019s house.\u201d\u201cBut I will slay thee,\u201d said the emperor. \u201cNay, thou canst not,\u201d said the noble champion of the faith, \u201cfor my life is hid with Christ in God.\u201d \u201cI will take thy treasures.\u201d \u201cNay, but thou canst not, for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.\u201d \u201cBut I will drive thee away from man, and thou shalt have no friend left.\u201d \u201cNay, thou canst not, for I have a friend in heaven from whom thou canst not separate me. I defy thee, for there is nothing that thou canst do to hurt me.\u201d These men held and lived the truths they proclaimed with deep personal conviction. They are the truths for which Christians would die. Conviction is what they had. Conviction was the difference.<\/p>\n

Webster\u2019s dictionary defines \u201cconviction\u201d as, \u201cthe state of being convinced; firm belief; convincing, as of a truth.\u201d<\/em> It\u2019s been accurately said, \u201cMen hold opinions, but convictions hold the man.”<\/em> Dr. Alex Montoya said, \u201cConvictions are spiritual instincts that drive us to action regardless of the circumstances.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Are you and I, men or women, of conviction? Do we really believe, own, and obey what God\u2019s Word says? How does the imminent return of Christ positively affect us? Is our identity joyfully grounded in Christ? Do we embrace our spiritual responsibility to disciple our children and remember His grace in that very role? Is the grid and lens in which we view our studies, our problems, our workplace, our weaknesses, and our churches in line with what we claim to hope for and who we profess to worship? What real convictions are functionally displayed by our testimonies as husbands, wives, in-laws, etc? How does our \u201cwisdom\u201d reflect the Lord\u2019s revelation? Do we believe every false word, careless word, hurtful word is dangerous to the soul, and that every encouragement, kindness, and correction are wonderful opportunities to build up?<\/p>\n

History is replete with examples of men and women, ordinary, weak, and sinful like you and me, who stood for what they believed, who were willing when called upon, to suffer unspeakable harm for their convictions, even to die for what they believed was pleasing to the Lord. God powerfully used them:<\/p>\n