Convictions Paper

Convictions 1 Convictions Ohio Christian University CM3000 Christian duty Convictions 2 We all live our lives correspond to our set of personal convictions. Personal convictions argon the blueprints that guide us trim pop the path of life. We generally obtain our core convictions during childhood based on our culture, where we live and our religious beliefs. It is probably safe to say that no devil people go forth keep the exact same convictions because each of our experiences and backgrounds interpolate in nigh manner.When thinking about convictions, I am re estimati wizd of the under handstivirtuosod scripture One man esteemeth maven day above a nonher(prenominal) close to other esteemeth every day alike. let every man be fully persuaded in his own brainpower (Romans 145). Although the record does non specifically work forcetion convictions, I am sure that Paul was talk about each persons individual convictions. In the arrest Christian excellence Alternative To Success written by Jon Johnston, he tells us that there be four pitfall concerning convictions that we pass to be aw ar of 1. Superstitious Convictions 2. Convictions that attract attention for selfish egos . Convictions generated by an involuntariness to change 4. Convictions that be veto Convictions 3 Convictions that be Superstitious As a professed Christian, I have often been guilty of looking at horoscopes and once for a lark, spill to a psychic. However even when I was indulging in each of these activities I felt a precise squeamish. I was taught to believe that God al unity knows our futures. By reading the horoscopes and t angiotensin converting enzyme ending to the psychic, I was not being true to my religious convictions. As Christians, we have to be c arful to stay away from anything that opposes biblical teaching.When we indulge in something that is superstitious it advocates faith in something other than God, and it is a form of divination. We cannot learn Gods ordain for our lives through horoscopes or psychics. As Christians, we are to read the word of honor and pray to God in tack together to gain wisdom and guidance. Convictions that pull attention for a selfish ego Matthew 6 16-18 states, Whenever you fast, do not format on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they expend their appearance so that they pull up stakes be noticed by men when they are fasting.Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. only if you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, barely by your bewilder who is in secret and your arrive who sees what is d unrivaled in secret will reward you, (King James). For me, this is the essence of not attracting attention for a selfish ego. Everything that we do should be for the Glory of God and not the approval of man. When we live by convictions based on what man thinks, we open our heart to sin, including the sin of egotism.Lucifer, who was one on Gods most glorious creations, fell from kindness due to his ego. Convictions 4 When we allow ourselves to be reeled in by our egos, we throw off ourselves in the first place that belongs only to God. In effect we are separating ourselves from depending on God. I have to be very careful of use the words I and me. I have overcome a atomic reactor of issues and now have a great life. However I screen and always remember to leave ego out and remember that it was by and thru the Grace of God. Convictions generated by Unwillingness to ChangeIn the text defy Christian Excellence Johnston says, Today, some of us slide into a conviction rut in revision to avoid facing change (p. 132). My beat was 32 years senior(a) than my Mother. I was born when my father was 52 and my sister when he was 56. My experience was born in 1910 and had grown up thru the depression and under conditions that were immensely different from my sister and I. My Father had to make some(prenominal) chang es in his thoughts, actions and attitudes to gibe that he was able to be the best Father in the world.This include going places he was not used to and participating in activities exotic to him so that we could navigate a modern life. I am dead certain this was difficult for him, besides because of the love he felt for us he was willing to change. Often when people are unable to acknowledge change, they become isolated. I dont think by reservation changes in our lives we have to go against God. Titus 35 states, He save us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but harmonize to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the blessed Spirit, (King James).The scripture speaks of renewal and regeneration and they both require change. We have to be able to change our attitudes in order to ge Convictions 5 on with others. Johnston is not saying that we have to change our values, but we have to be willing to adapt ourselves to situations. In the textboo k, he gave an example of how some were not willing to lead new medical advances. I am one who believes that God provides the knowledge available to Doctors to save lives. Accepting the benefits of medical applied science is a form of being able to accept change.The Jews wandered in the state of nature for 40 years because they were unable to accept change. They were unable to move beyond the life of slavery and cruel masters to the lives that God had ordained them. Their unfitness to accept change induced them to be grumblers and complainers. It literally isolated them from God. Convictions that are Negative In the course of life, I have heard talk from some Christians and thought to myself, they do not inspire anyone to become a Christian. This was due to their negativity. It seemed as if everything was a sin.They treated everyone else as a condemned evildoer not worthy of Gods love. Alfred A. Montapert said, Avoid destructive thinking. haywire electronegative thoughts sink people. A ship can sail round the world numerous, many times, but just let enough wet get into the ship and it will sink. Just so with the human mind. allow enough negative thoughts or improper thoughts get into the human mind and the person sinks just like a ship (worldofquotes. com). delivery boy encountered many negative people even while he was attempting to save them from sin.Even one of the men hanging on the cross with deliverer instead of enquire for mercy, went to his death a pathetic and negative person. When we are negative, are police wagon are heartened to good news. I think this is a sin. The Bible admonishes us to In the same way, let your light shine Convictions 6 out front men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,(Matthew 516). As Christians one of our primary roles is to lead others to Christ. When we are negative and sour faced we are unable to do that.In closing, although we all do have different convictions, If we are Chr istian, we have a common denominator, Jesus Christ. I think we have to occasionally examine our convictions and see if they are Christ like. We have to determine if we have wrapped ourselves in a self-righteous cloak of convictions that is more worldly than Godly. Convictions 7 References Johnston, J. (1996). Christian Excellence Alternative To Success. Second Edition. JKO Publishing. Franklin, Tn. World of Quotes. Retrieved March 2012. Alfred A. Montepert. http//www. worldofquotes. com/NegativeConvictions PaperConvictions 1 Convictions Ohio Christian University CM3000 Christian Excellence Convictions 2 We all live our lives according to our set of personal convictions. Personal convictions are the blueprints that guide us down the path of life. We generally obtain our core convictions during childhood based on our culture, where we live and our religious beliefs. It is probably safe to say that no deuce people will have the exact same convictions because each of our experiences a nd backgrounds go in some manner.When thinking about convictions, I am reminded of the spare-time activity scripture One man esteemeth one day above another another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind (Romans 145). Although the Bible does not specifically mention convictions, I am sure that Paul was talking about each persons individual convictions. In the book Christian Excellence Alternative To Success written by Jon Johnston, he tells us that there are four pitfall concerning convictions that we have to be aware of 1. Superstitious Convictions 2. Convictions that attract attention for selfish egos . Convictions generated by an involuntariness to change 4. Convictions that are negative Convictions 3 Convictions that are Superstitious As a professed Christian, I have often been guilty of looking at horoscopes and once for a lark, going to a psychic. However even when I was indulging in each of these activities I felt a lowly squeamish. I w as taught to believe that God alone knows our futures. By reading the horoscopes and going to the psychic, I was not being true to my religious convictions. As Christians, we have to be careful to stay away from anything that opposes biblical teaching.When we indulge in something that is superstitious it advocates faith in something other than God, and it is a form of divination. We cannot determine Gods will for our lives through horoscopes or psychics. As Christians, we are to read the Bible and pray to God in order to gain wisdom and guidance. Convictions that get in attention for a selfish ego Matthew 6 16-18 states, Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they pretermit their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting.Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. further you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret a nd your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you, (King James). For me, this is the essence of not attracting attention for a selfish ego. Everything that we do should be for the Glory of God and not the approval of man. When we live by convictions based on what man thinks, we open our heart to sin, including the sin of egotism.Lucifer, who was one on Gods most glorious creations, fell from blessing due to his ego. Convictions 4 When we allow ourselves to be reeled in by our egos, we put ourselves in the first place that belongs only to God. In effect we are separating ourselves from depending on God. I have to be very careful of utilize the words I and me. I have overcome a dish of issues and now have a great life. However I extend and always remember to leave ego out and remember that it was by and thru the Grace of God. Convictions generated by Unwillingness to ChangeIn the textbook Christian Excellence Johnston says, Today, some of us slide into a conviction ru t in order to avoid facing change (p. 132). My Father was 32 years of age(p) than my Mother. I was born when my father was 52 and my sister when he was 56. My Father was born in 1910 and had grown up thru the depression and under conditions that were vastly different from my sister and I. My Father had to make many changes in his thoughts, actions and attitudes to go over that he was able to be the best Father in the world.This include going places he was not used to and participating in activities inappropriate to him so that we could navigate a modern life. I am abruptly certain this was difficult for him, but because of the love he felt for us he was willing to change. Often when people are unable to accept change, they become isolated. I dont think by making changes in our lives we have to go against God. Titus 35 states, He save us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the blessed Spirit, (King James).The scripture speaks of renewal and regeneration and they both require change. We have to be able to change our attitudes in order to ge Convictions 5 on with others. Johnston is not saying that we have to change our values, but we have to be willing to adapt ourselves to situations. In the textbook, he gave an example of how some were not willing to accept new medical advances. I am one who believes that God provides the knowledge available to Doctors to save lives. Accepting the benefits of medical technology is a form of being able to accept change.The Jews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they were unable to accept change. They were unable to move beyond the life of slavery and cruel masters to the lives that God had ordained them. Their inability to accept change induced them to be grumblers and complainers. It literally isolated them from God. Convictions that are Negative In the course of life, I have heard dialog from some Christians a nd thought to myself, they do not inspire anyone to become a Christian. This was due to their negativity. It seemed as if everything was a sin.They treated everyone else as a condemned evildoer not worthy of Gods love. Alfred A. Montapert said, Avoid destructive thinking. unbecoming negative thoughts sink people. A ship can sail around the world many, many times, but just let enough pissing get into the ship and it will sink. Just so with the human mind. Let enough negative thoughts or improper thoughts get into the human mind and the person sinks just like a ship (worldofquotes. com). Jesus encountered many negative people even while he was attempting to save them from sin.Even one of the men hanging on the cross with Jesus instead of postulation for mercy, went to his death a pathetic and negative person. When we are negative, are paddy wagon are heartened to good news. I think this is a sin. The Bible admonishes us to In the same way, let your light shine Convictions 6 ori ginally men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,(Matthew 516). As Christians one of our primary roles is to lead others to Christ. When we are negative and sour faced we are unable to do that.In closing, although we all do have different convictions, If we are Christian, we have a common denominator, Jesus Christ. I think we have to occasionally examine our convictions and determine if they are Christ like. We have to determine if we have wrapped ourselves in a self-righteous cloak of convictions that is more worldly than Godly. Convictions 7 References Johnston, J. (1996). Christian Excellence Alternative To Success. Second Edition. JKO Publishing. Franklin, Tn. World of Quotes. Retrieved March 2012. Alfred A. Montepert. http//www. worldofquotes. com/Negative