Everything that Does Not Come from Faith is Sin (part 2)

Weak and the Strong

When it comes to having convictions that restrain you from sinning or encourage righteous deeds, who would you consider to be "stronger," those with many convictions or those with few? "One person believes he may eat anything (few convictions), while the weak person eats only vegetables (many convictions).... One person esteems one day as better (many)... while another esteems all days alike (few)." In Scripture we find that those who are "weak," or immature in their faith, have many convictions, while those who are strong, or mature, adopt fewer convictions.

 

This makes sense when you consider the fact that parents provide restraints for their children which serve as imposed convictions that keep them from screwing up their lives. No drinking, no smoking, no hanging out with "those people," clean your room, go to school, do your chores, and attend church on Sunday. But as our children get older, we realize that responsibility comes only with the freedom to individually choose what "right looks like." The same is true for we who are in Christ.

 

And therein is the problem: our convictions are not always self-imposed. Paul warns us that those who exercise their freedom "despise the one who abstains, and... [the] one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats" (Rom 14.1-5). Sometimes I find myself looking down my nose (despising) at those who shun violent games and movies or think Sundays are holy. Other times, I shake my head (judgement) at those who "drink socially" or believe that camping is a spiritual endeavor. So how do we mature in our faith without becoming weak because of our convictions?