Wholeness: Conviction

Conviction and condemnation, two words with similar meanings in the church, a negative feeling over our sin. With the main distinction, being conviction leads to repentance, where condemnation leads to defeat. Granted, it can be a very fine line. So we need to do whatever we can, as far as it depends on us, to stay on the right side of it. Making sure our correction is always acted upon in love, not reactionary anger, even with ourselves. However, it is not always up to us, there are people who are so prideful, hypersensitive, or fragile in the ego that even the most gentle rebuke feels like condemnation.

But, what does this have to do with wholeness you may ask. One vital part of finding it is being teachable. If we don't possess a correctable attitude, then we will never even be able to let go of what we need to, to take hold of what's truly missing. Playing the victim card over constructive criticism would seem to indicate you believe that there is no room for change or growth. If that is the case, why are such people so defensive and emotionally fragile? A whole person should be a strong person.

As a Christian educator I do try to convict people, induce self-reflection, make people think, to question our own motives. Yet, when I do this with my online posts, I rarely get much of a response. As opposed to warn and fuzzy posts that garner lots of praise.

So naturally, I question the teachability of many people in the church. However, my skepticism of your teachability is unimportant. What really matters is, do you question it in yourself. You won't be able to take a positive step towards wholeness unless you shed off that inflexible and un-teachable attitude.

Every believer worth their salt will come face to face with an untruth in their thinking, or a crack in their heart that they just had no idea about at some point. This whole series spawned from the idea that we have such a one-dimensional notion of holiness after all. We should not count on convention or feelings to lead us on the right path. We must seek to understand it for ourselves. The true disciple who wants wholeness does not fear the inevitable changes required when conviction arises. The one still in love with the broken self will dismiss or make excuses for what they find. Which are you?

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. -Romans 12:3

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. -Proverbs 27:19

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