Personal Convictions

Be Mindful of Your Personal convictions

(They will most likely embarrass you later.)

Preaching “personal convictions” as holiness standards is one major problem with the Oneness Pentecostal Movement: Too many people preach personal convictions as doctrine.

One may hold personal convictions against any number of things, but have absolutely zero Bible to support the conviction — only personal opinion. Now, that tis O.K., but he/she should keep his/her personal conviction between himself/herself and God — until he/she grows a bit in the Lord.

I knew young man, once, who felt it was wrong to play checkers. In those days the Oneness people had monthly fellowship meetings and monthly youth rallies where we took turns moving these meetings around the district. At the fellowship meeting each preacher was given 3 to 5 minutes to "deliver his soul." Well, this young man was a preacher, and wouldn’t you know it, in each meeting he would use his few minutes ranting against checkers (he would throw TV in there from time to time).

 I still see that person from time to time. He is close to 70 years old now. You know, he is doing a great work for God, still at his age. But I noticed him playing checkers the other day with his grandson in Cracker Barrel. And, oh yes, he has a TV now also.

I am sure he looks back on those days when he was a babe in Christ with a smile and an appreciation for all of us who tolerated him while he was growing up.