Importance Of Conviction
The article below is ‘borrowed’ from the Northside Anchor, the bulletin of the Northside church of Christ in Calhoun Georgia.
It is a fitting article as conviction cannot take place until one “hears” with their ears, obeys and commits themselves to the Lord in full accordance with the Word of God.
The lack of conviction usually yields to the ever-dangerous spirit of lawlessness. Lawlessness is a manifestation of one's lack of self-discipline and serves as a breeding ground for hypocrisy. Lawlessness is bred of weakness, and typically yields to those not in authority, the ignorant, and the otherwise unqualified leader, including women.
A leader without conviction usually possesses a certain degree of gullibility, in that, when error is being advanced in some manner, he may be easily led to believe that it is acceptable. As a consequence, this type of leader will be the 'pied piper' who will lead the flock into apostasy. Paul warned the Ephesian elders there would be some of their own number who would “...arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:30).
A faithful leader with conviction will serve as a valiant shepherd when the devil's 'wolves' are threatening the flock. Paul writes to Titus concerning the fortitude which should be possessed of those who are leaders, and states that they are to hold “fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped...” (Titus 1:9-11). Clearly, when a leader possesses conviction, he is one who is stable in his faith and in his work (1 Cor. 15:58).
The lack of conviction will usually be accompanied by a lack of good sense. Consider Solomon's son, Rehoboam in 1 Kings 12. Upon the death of his father, he comes to the throne of Israel. His subjects came to him pleading for relief from the excessive labor and heavy taxation. Rehoboam consulted with the older and wiser men who advised him to lighten the burden and the people would respond to him favorably. However, the king also consulted with the young men among whom he had grown up, who advised him to increase the burden on the people. Bear in mind, that any conviction which is deemed to be of any value, is based on knowledge and wisdom. The older men possessed such knowledge, the younger did not. Rehoboam hearkened to the council of the younger men, and as a consequence of this lack of common sense, the kingdom divided with ten of the tribes departing. This scene sadly depicts many similar scenarios in various congregations of the Lord's church today, where the lack of common sense in its leaders in listening to the unlearned, inexperienced, and the unwise, have caused those congregations to be weaken by virtue of its division.
The lack of conviction will, as well, give way to the spirit of compromise. The child of God should never “...give place to the devil...” (Eph. 4:27). A leader is not to compromise with the 'gainsayer,' he must 'convince' him, and 'stop' his 'unruly and vain' deceit (Titus 1:9-10). Paul urged the Thessalonian brethren to “...stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle” (2 Thess. 2:15). For a leader to compromise the truth, clearly exposes his incompetence. A competent leader will emulate the sentiment as expressed by Solomon: “Buy the truth, and sell it not...” (Prov. 23:23). Consequently, if one possesses conviction, i.e., a strong persuasion of belief, he will not compromise that belief, but will be disposed to defend it (Jude 3).
Conviction in leadership cannot be over emphasized. May our leaders apply these words from the apostle Paul: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hard- ness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (Emp. RH). No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things” (2 Tim. 2:1-7).
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The Word of the Lord is very clear in that one must not only hear, but also do as God Commands. However, one cannot consistently “do” as the Bible teaches unless or until they are “committed” to God and His Word. Read, study, and meditate on the Word of God daily, and do it because you love God. This is when “commitment” becomes evident.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
