Conviction vs. Condemnation
“If you don’t have no story to tell them, then you don’t have no power.”
- Dr. Matthew Stevenson III
I grew up in church my entire life. Yup that’s right a “church baby”. I knew what it was like to party on Saturday and then worship in church on Sunday. I knew what it was like to have some drinks, then tell God that I’ll never do it again. But, the soul tie I was probably my greatest convictions. However, we fail to recognize that it is better to feel God’s conviction than to not feel it.
What is Conviction?
Conviction is God’s correction and chastisement that can be felt when we do something that is not pleasing to God. It’s one of His love languages. (Hebrews 12:6). Without God’s conviction, we are subject to the feeling of guilt. Now God’s conviction is different from the world’s conviction. For instance, the world’s conviction looks at the current state and past of a being (you) and determines their future. The world’s conviction would hold you to your past, but God’s conviction doesn’t. God’s conviction looks at the state of a being's future and determines the process needed to get them there.
Transparency Time (TTime)
Let me be transparent. During my undergrad years at college, I attended multiple functions/ parties on the weekends. It was nothing like a good spring weekend or a homecoming event. I would pre-game before the parties with friends, and most of the time, I ended up intoxicated (I do not promote underage drinking). I would enjoy the night out, but I would feel God's conviction when I would wake up the following day. His conviction made me feel like I’ve vexed Him. It was to the point that it brought me to repentance. Without that conviction, I wouldn’t have created this blog. God’s conviction in those very moments reminded me that He wanted to deliver me and wanted me to give up that life because He desired better things for me. But it was through those times I learned more about God’s agape (His love) through His conviction. God’s love admires every one of your imperfections.
It’s important to note that God’s conviction brings you to repentance instead of guilt (2 Cor. 7:10). Repentance is “a commitment to a new way of living and… the transformation of the human heart and mind”. The good thing about God is that He forgives us and doesn’t hold our past or faults against us when we repent. He actually forgets about it! (Hebrews 8:12). After we repent, we must turn out hearts and strive to live like Jesus Christ.
What is condemnation?
Condemnation is the feeling of guilt resulting from another’s judgment. God NEVER condemns us. (Romans 8:1). I think it is accusations without reason. Therefore, the world loves to condemn people. Condemnation can come from family, friends, co-workers, and sadly church people. For example, if someone who has a criminal record commits robbery and all evidence shows that they stole the items, then the judge only option is to punish (condemn) that person because they have found he/she guilty of committing that crime. It makes you think that because you did something regrettable that God looks at you as a terrible person. However, God is so just (fair) that He would look at that person’s record and still choose to use he/she for a greater purpose. He wouldn’t cast guilt or shame on an individual, instead, His conviction changes a person. It would point out all the evidence that shows how He can transform a thief into a disciple.
Always remeber that He is so in love with you. I mean, everything that you think is wrong about you He loves and there is nothing you do can change His mind about you!
Transparency lives here - Defined Destiny
Leave a comment down below if you liked this blog. I’d love to do part 2!
