Judged or Convicted?

There is quite a misunderstanding out there.

Somehow during the past couple decades, the distinction has been lost between being judgmental and telling the truth. I believe this lost distinction is the result of Biblical uncertainty which has infiltrated the minds of Christians - the idea that yesterday's Truth is no longer Truth for today. It's the idea that sins described in the Bible are no longer sins - that the Bible is no longer relevant. It therefore becomes more and more natural for people, even Christians, to say someone is judgmental simply because they believe sin is still sin.

Do you consider yourself to be a Christian but question the relevancy of the Bible? Do you like passages like 1 Corinthians 13 which talks about love being patient and kind but question other passages that talk about the problems of sin? If so, why are you a Christian? By that I mean, what passages compelled you to make a decision to follow the teachings of Jesus? After all, if you question certain passages of the Bible, how do you know those passages are relevant on which you're basing your faith?

If we take Jesus at his word - that he is literally personified truth - are people really being judged by Christians or are they being convicted by the Spirit of Christ? Could it be that they are confusing Christian judgment with Christ conviction? Could it be that the 'guilt' people feel from others isn't really guilt but rather the conviction of God?

I used to dread the word conviction. Whenever I thought about the word conviction I would think of a courtroom drama where the judge sentences a criminal to life in prison. But there is a huge difference between conviction and condemnation. Conviction is known in the Bible as Godly sorrow. God's Word tells us that Godly sorrow is what leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Condemnation tells you, "You are such a failure! Look at what you did!" while conviction tells you, "Come to me... and I will forgive you!"

Conviction is good. When we feel convicted by God, it is the equivalent of God reaching down to us and embracing us. It is God opening His arms and asking us to love Him as much as He loves us. It is God singling us out and calling us by name. "Jeff, I want the very best for you. I love you and I want to show you a better way."

Yes, conviction is a very good thing. Just don't get it confused with being judged by Christians. Most of them are only reciting the words of God anyway. :)