I am a very blessed woman. One of those blessings is having a mother I can sit down with over a cup of tea and really talk. Almost no topic is off limits. No display of emotion is taken offensively. Everything goes! I got to spend last week with my mom and as always, conversation flowed.
One thing we discussed is how does one stand by their convictions without being judgmental? This is a question I've been asking myself for about a year now, especially as Patrick and I have become more and more passionate about family discipleship and it's meant a lot of lifestyle changes for us. A lot of rethinking the way we do things. I think I am afraid that accepting others' way of doing things "weakens" my conviction.
So, what does it look like to embrace your God-given convictions, without having a swayed by the wind, whatever-is-right-for-you-may-not-be-right-for-me attitude, but still be gracious, accepting and understanding of those who do things differently from you?
I'd really like to hear back from the two of you that read my stuff...
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Thinking and processing.............stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a good one to be talking about this topic and I'm sure that I'm not one of the two that you were thinking would post...but here are some of my thoughts. Without a doubt, you need to stay true to the convictions that God has called you and I think that your convictions should be shared with others - not only the conviction but how God gave that conviction to you....even if it is as simple as saying because it's in this verse. BUT the way that you say and express both in tone and facial make all the difference in the world to someone else. I was reminded again today by a friend to make sure that I don't overstep what God is doing. Let God be God. Let Him make the changes because what do we really want???? We want the change of heart to be because the person allowed God to do the changing and not because I was so strong in my position. So....once you figure out who to convey your convictions in a way that will allow God to use your example to make another person change....let me know.
ReplyDeletei am also thinking and processing as well... really concentrating on past conversations with a dear friend about this very topic and learning so much and reflecting on the journey God has taken Jase and I on since being out of the pastorate...will reply back!
ReplyDeleteI know I am not the one you expected to post. I have found that there are not as many black and whites as I thought there was. If it is black and white in Scripture, I am unbending and unappologetic in my convictions. But if it is something that is not black and white in Scripture (and there are strong believers who disagree on the exact meaning of these kinds of things), I try to approach those topics more open minded. That does not mean that I will see eye to eye with you, but it does mean that I will consider what you are saying. I don't think there is anything wrong in that kind of scenario with agreeing to disagree. Is my conviction weaker because you don't agree with me or chose to do things the way I do? No! I don't want to loose the opportunities to be a light in other people's lives because they don't have the same convictions as me. I think the strongest way to share your convictions without being judgemental is to live them out and to love others where they are at.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback. One thing I am learning is exactly what Kendra said. Things aren't as black and white as I used to thing. What prompted this post is my contemplation of our pastor and his wife. They are a couple that is SO grounded in their convictions of how they live and raise their family. They do not waiver. And yet, they are the most gentle and gracious people I have met. She exudes gentleness. He is so accepting. They are an example of what I would like to be. Thanks for the discussion!
ReplyDeleteThis is the mother, who is still learning. I'm the blessed one. By all my girls.I've learned so much from them. They are God's grace to me.Amen to your comments Jenn.I think it is grace from beginning to end. Grace that gives us bits of God's truth, grace that enables us in any way to walk in that truth.Keeping that perspective should enable us to share the truth we have in such a way that lifts others up. As your pastor said Deborah, "We're all beggars telling other beggars where to find food."
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