Convictions During COVID

Ephesians 5:6–21
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Pastor Randy Smith

People have frequently asked me how I am doing as a pastor during the COVID situation. I can’t say it’s been the most painful time. I can’t even say it’s been the most difficult time. However, I would say it’s been the most confusing time. As most pastors would agree, never before have we been forced to make unprecedented and creative decisions with little factual information that would impact so many people for both their spiritual and physical wellbeing. Moreover, never has there been a time even close that the church would exhibit such an extreme diversity in opinions.

This Wednesday evening, I will be meeting with the deacon and elders. Together we will be trying to make some more important decisions that will impact all of you for the foreseeable future.

However, you don’t need to be a church leader to be forced to develop personal convictions regarding the COVID situation. You should have convictions, but how do you arrive at your convictions? Is it based on popular opinion? Is it based on feelings? Is it based on convenience? Is it based on circumstances? Technically, that is where many people go. Even many Christians. And technically those are poor standards to develop a godly conviction.

So, we should all have convictions regarding COVID decisions – social distancing, avoiding certain places, schooling our children, following the governor, masks? Likewise, we should have convictions regarding all the other sensitive areas in life as well – schooling your children, entertainment choices, alcohol, politics, finances, the list continues.

What I would like to do with you this morning as we prepare for the Lord’s Table is provide a six-point checklist, a grid so-to-speak that when combined with prayer will help you formulate a biblical conviction. We’ll look at a lot of verses.

Is It Scriptural?

Number one, first and foremost, is it Scriptural? In other words, does the Bible specifically address the issue? There are many things the Bible commands we do and do not do. There are the non-negotiable, black-and-white, church agreed upon, honoring Jesus, submitting to the Lord, do-and-be blessed Christian mandates. And these mandates trump the prerogatives of society, the power of feelings, the precedence of experience and the persuasiveness of others. We do not develop convictions (we could say beliefs) and then ignore Scripture or bend Scripture to do as we desire. We start with the Word of God and build our convictions around the centrality of Scripture. Anything less is idolatry.

Here are some general verses: Luke 6:46, “Why do you call Me , ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” 1 John 2:3-6, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” John 14;15 , “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Let’s keep it current: Watching porn, drunkenness, violence to others, disrespecting the police, profanity, laziness, astrology, cheating on taxes and killing babies is wrong. And kindness, self-control, faithfully attending church, praying, sharing Christ and wise living is right. Again, these are the easy convictions to hold because they are spelled out specifically for us in the Bible. They are not arbitrary rules, suggestions or good ideas, but commands based upon God’s character that the Holy Spirit empowers us to obey as we seek to honor Christ and have a life that is deeply blessed.

So, it is very simple. Do what the Bible says!

However, we all know there are many decisions we need to make where an answer is not listed for us in Scripture, chapter and verse. We still need to develop a conviction and make God-honoring decisions. Where do we go now?

Is It Sanctifying?

Point number two, ask yourself if your decision is sanctifying. In other words, even though the specific situation is not listed in the Bible, our ultimate desire is to honor Christ. So, what biblical principles might apply generally to our situation.

Here are four excellent considerations:

Does it pass the “Good Test”? Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” So, when you consider your belief about a particular issue is it true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute, excellent and worthy of praise?

Does it pass the “Love Test”? 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all that you do be done in love.” 1 Corinthians 13:2, “But [if I] do not have love, I am nothing.” As much I would like to do so, probably not a good idea to blast music at my neighbor’s home this morning to get them back for their loud party that when until 3 am.

Does it pass the “Conscience Test”? 1 Timothy 1:19, “Keeping faith and a good conscience.” There is so much in Scripture about being careful to never violate our conscience. For example, everyone in the church can talk about watching a certain movie, but if you begin watching it and you begin feeling spiritually uncomfortable, regardless of how innocent the movie many be intended, you must not go against your personal conscience. Reason being, because the more you compromise your personal conscience, the more you will sear the spiritual sensitivity of your heart.

Does it pass the “Profitable Test”? This means, just because something is not expressly commanded or forbidden in Scripture, it does not mean that action is necessarily profitable for your walk with Christ. We avoid legalism, but we also avoid the “can’t find anything against it in the Bible” to support all our decisions.

1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” And 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.”

Is It Smart?

We need to move on. Number three, is it smart ? Or better, is it wise?

God is the epitome of wisdom. Fearing God according to Proverbs is the beginning of wisdom. We are commanded to avoid foolishness to seek the mind of Christ and pursue wise living. Clearly, obeying Scripture is always wise. But again, what if Scripture does not address the issue?

Well, in a sense there are six great verses from James 3 that do address this issue in a general way. Beginning in verse 13, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic . For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.” Verse 17, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

So, as elders as we make these difficult COVID decisions for the church we ask ourselves, is the decision pure and peaceable and gentle and reasonable and full of mercy and good fruits and unwavering and without hypocrisy? Is it a righteous decision resulting in peace?

We are called to love God with all our minds. All our convictions should be wise decisions with the assistance of wise counsel, and the wisdom is based on God’s definition of wisdom.

Is It Unnecessarily Provoking Society?

Three more standards to consider when making a biblical decision. Number four, does it unnecessarily provoke society? Now I fully know all the verses that call us to stand against the world and if necessary, suffer for Jesus. I know the fear of man brings a snare. I fully know that that the church and the world will never see eye-to-eye.

But we also need balance. Not everything needs to be a spiritual fight, a federal case. We should be known by the world as those who will not compromise truth, but we should also be known by the world as those who are gracious, peaceful, reasonable, kind. Specifically, during COVID, without forsaking truth I hope the world saw us as wise, helpful and team players, not arrogant, careless and dangerous. Why? Because of our testimony, a desire to be a pleasant aroma from and for Christ!

Verses? 2 Corinthians 6:3, “Giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited.” 1 Corinthians 10, “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor … Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God; just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved” (verses 24, 32, 33). Even Jesus in Matthew 17, “However, so that we do not offend them.”

This calls for wisdom and Christians who cannot understand the balance of which hills to die on do the cause of Christ a great disservice both to those inside and outside the church. And I know because I regret the spiritual arrogance I displayed when I was first saved.

Is It Obeying Authority Structures?

Number 5, is my decision obeying the authority structures Christ has placed in my life? The best verse is Ephesians 5:21. “Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” The context of this verse is not “mutual submission,” but rather the ability to recognize the God-given authority in your life and submit to them.

Respecting, honoring and following God-given authority is our act of obedience to the God who ordained them. It’s for His glory and our well-being. And it’s the only way to achieve unity. If not, our homes, country, churches and workplaces will follow the chaotic time of the Judges when everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Without submission to authority structures, we have anarchy.

So, who do where have? God covers all spheres of our lives. In society – the government (Romans 13:1). In the workplace – the boss (Colossians 3:22). In the home – the husband (Ephesians 5:22) .And in the church – the pastors (Hebrews 13:17).

All this to say, when you are formulating a conviction, making a decision, you need to keep it in line with the leaders God has provided.

In other words, as church leaders we can respect your conviction to not eat or eat only vegetables, watch or boycott professional sports, receive or avoid vaccinations and go trick-or-treating or stay at home if you are making a biblically educated decision. But as church leaders we cannot respect your convictions if you want to hold your own church service on Tuesday night, stand up in church and supposedly speak in tongues, wear a bikini to worship or pass out sermon tapes from the latest prosperity preacher. You can have a conviction that moderate alcohol drinking is fine, but you can’t follow your conviction and bring a 6-pack to church!

Again, I need to ask myself, are my convictions in line with my God appointed authority? Are they promoting the greater good as I act in love to preserve unity and further Christ’s agenda in the greatest way possible or are they selfish, petty and destructive? There are times when it is very godly to be a team-player for the sake of majority and the course charted by the leadership.

Of course, all human authorities are imperfect. Of course, there are times when we must, for the sake of Christ, go against them. But my friends, this is by far the exception rather than the norm. And when we do, we better have solid biblical grounds for doing so.

Is It A Stumbling Block?

Lastly, number 6, is my conviction causing “stumbling block” for another believer? A “stumbling block” is a biblical illustration of something we place before another believer that causes them to “spiritually trip.”

This is not so much about offending someone as it is causing them to sin by violating their own convictions and hence conscience by following our behavior.

The best sections of Scripture that deal with this is Romans 14-15 and 1 Corinthians 8. As a matter of fact, Paul goes so far in 1 Corinthians 8 to say we should even put aside our freedom in Christ if it keeps another believer from sinning. And the subject of the discussion in this scenario was something as simple as eating meat! Verse 13, “Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.”

Again, the principle is simple. I am entitled to my convictions, but I am not entitled to practice them publicly if it leads another believer into sin.

So, God wants you to have a convictions . God wants you to love Him with all your mind and seek to live for His glory with a clear conscience in all the gray areas of the Christian life that we are dealing with these days.

But remember, our convictions must not contradict Scripture and should be in line with general biblical principles. They should be wise and not unnecessarily ruin our relationship with unbelievers. And they should obey God-given authority and not cause another believer to sin.

As you are in prayer and guided by the Holy Spirit and applying these 6 principles, I trust the Lord will guide you to the behavior He desires for your life. It’s simply doing as Jesus did. May we find our unity in the clear biblical commands, but also act in love respecting the convictions of others. As it was said many, many years ago, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity.”