What do you believe and why?
There is a difference between a biblical absolute, a spiritual conviction, and a personal opinion. It’s important to know the difference and not misapply them. This chart defines the three terms and explains how they differ.
| Source | Characteristics | Proper attitude | Example | |
| Biblical absolute | The Bible | God’s eternal, objective truth applicable to everyone | I embrace this and I encourage you to embrace it too. | Thou shalt not steal. |
| Personal conviction | The Holy Spirit’s conviction and leadership | A personal conviction that I should follow | I embrace this personal conviction but I don’t expect you to. | We send our children to private, Christian school. |
| Personal opinion and preference | Self | A personal preference | I have personal preferences, but I’m also willing, at times, to yield to your preferences. | I prefer traditional worship, but I know many people prefer contemporary worship, so let’s offer both. |
There are several ways to misapply these terms.
Sometimes, we call something a biblical absolute when it is not. Ex: “Christians should not drink alcohol.” There is no biblical prohibition for drinking alcohol. It may be your spiritual conviction, but it’s not a biblical absolute. We misrepresent God and confuse people when we label something as sin that the Bible doesn’t.
Sometimes, we erroneously elevate a spiritual conviction to the level of biblical absolute. Ex: “You must have a daily quiet time.” This is certainly a good idea, but it’s a spiritual conviction, not a biblical absolute. Don’t suggest that God will be displeased at me if I don’t have a daily quiet time.
While it’s good and normal to have personal preferences, at times we may need to hold them loosely and yield to the preferences of others. We should acknowledge and accept other people’s preferences.
Consider each of these statements. Is it a biblical absolute, spiritual conviction, or personal preference?
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Do not speak unwholesome words.
2. We should sing only hymns in church.
3. Forgive one another.
4. I like living in the country.
5. We should sing only praise choruses at church.
6. I’m going to read my Bible every morning before I go to work.
7. I would rather spend my extra money on nice clothes than a nice car.
8. It’s important for a church to have Sunday night services.
9. Be completely gentle.
10. We feel strongly that our children should attend public school.
11. Encourage one another.
12. I’m going to participate in the anti-abortion rally.
13. On my day off, I enjoy solitude.
Numbers 1,3,9 and 11 are directives from the Bible, so they are nonnegotiable. Numbers 6,10 and 12 are spiritual convictions. The remaining statements are preferences.
Know when to hold tight to your persuasions and when to hold them loosely.
Remember Romans 14: 8-13 before you judge another Christian. Paul writes:
“Living or dying we follow the Lord. Either way we are his. 9 Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he can be our Lord both while we live and when we die.
10 You have no right to criticize your brother or look down on him. Remember, each of us will stand personally before the Judgment Seat of God. 11 For it is written, “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee shall bow to me and every tongue confess to God.” 12 Yes, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
13 So don’t criticize each other anymore. Try instead to live in such a way that you will never make your brother stumble by letting him see you doing something he thinks is wrong.” NLB
www.donmcminn.com.
