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Lately, the topic of “Conviction”, especially as used in a traditional Christian context, has been on my mind. This is likely to be poorly formulated, incomplete and somewhat incomprehensible, but humor me. I need to get it out and I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on the matter. The word Conviction has two meanings. One is a matter or belief that one is completely convinced of, as in “firm in his convictions.” The other meaning is the state of being convicted, that is, found guilty, i.e. “The man’s conviction for murder was upheld by the judge.”
The two are related, in my opinion, but I want to focus on the second meaning — the one related to the verb “to convict.” I’ve been listening to a lot of Christian sermons while I run or drive to work, and I hear often that we should be “convicted” of our sins and our imperfections. Initially, this rubbed me the wrong way, but as I came to contemplate the concept more, I began to realize its beauty (to me). Pastors will often say that reading scripture should “convict” us. I have felt that way at church a lot (and when hearing General Conference talks, etc.). It has never been a pleasant feeling. Conviction means guilty, and no one likes to feel guilty. The problem I’m finding with the church (and this is completely subjective and from my point of view only, I make no claims that everyone’s experiences will be the same) is that guilt is easy to come by, and that its purpose is to serve more as a deterrent than a rehabilitation. “Don’t do XY or Z and you won’t feel guilty.” or even worse “Don’t do XY or Z so you won’t have to repent later.” This seems to me to signify that repentance is something to be avoided. That conviction which leads to repentance is hard, shameful, and embarrassing (or worse.)
What I’m coming to find out is that repentance — that is, the turning of one’s heart and mind to Christ — is not something to be avoided at all, but something to be embraced and celebrated. Only when one is fully convicted of his or her sin can one then fully rely on the merits, mercy, and grace of our Savior for our salvation. I have come to embrace the idea that I have been convicted of my sin — guilty as charged — but not condemned because of it. Because of the Atonement I can be forgiven — all while fully aware of my imperfections and sins.
Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble. I’m sure this may not have made sense, but I need to get my thoughts down. Again, I’d love any feedback.
I have struggled with some of these ideas myself. “Guilt” can be a positive thing if it motivates us to improve, be better, do better. But guilt can also be paralyzing especially when the standard that everyone is held to is perfection (or at least superficial perfection). Quote:The problem I’m finding with the church (and this is completely subjective and from my point of view only, I make no claims that everyone’s experiences will be the same) is that guilt is easy to come by, and that its purpose is to serve more as a deterrent than a rehabilitation. “Don’t do XY or Z and you won’t feel guilty.” or even worse “Don’t do XY or Z so you won’t have to repent later.” This seems to me to signify that repentance is something to be avoided. That conviction which leads to repentance is hard, shameful, and embarrassing (or worse.)
Many years ago, as a youth, I went to a fireside where the speaker talked about avoiding “the entanglements of sin.” He used as an example his own father who had smoked for years, then repented, but still died of lung cancer. I remember being very affected by that talk but as I contemplate it, it now bothers me. Of course, his father couldn’t avoid the health consequences of a lifetime of smoking but the implication was that if we sin, even if we repent, it won’t be “enough.” We are still in some way “dirty.” And yet the scriptures tell us that we all come up short in some way.
Quote:What I’m coming to find out is that repentance — that is, the turning of one’s heart and mind to Christ — is not something to be avoided at all, but something to be embraced and celebrated. Only when one is fully convicted of his or her sin can one then fully rely on the merits, mercy, and grace of our Savior for our salvation. I have come to embrace the idea that I have been convicted of my sin — guilty as charged — but not condemned because of it. Because of the Atonement I can be forgiven — all while fully aware of my imperfections and sins.
Amen and amen!
I remember a scene from “Law & Order” (the first one) where someone tells McCoy not to feel guilty about something. His reply was classic: Quote:“I’m Catholic. I can feel guilty about anything.”
Like most things in life, guilt is good or bad depending on how it is defined and used.
I think we ought to feel / recognize our weakness as humans (be humble), but I like the concept of atonement / redemption that overturns the “conviction” associated with “fallen mortality” and replaces it with “progression”. I like “repentance” as a forward-looking, growth-change orientation, rather than a backward-looking, return-change orientation – so constant conviction of our fallen, bad, evil, whatever state simply doesn’t do it for me.
I’m not trying to return to what I once was (with regard to anything); I’m trying to progress continually into newness that will never end.
I agree with Ray about guilt. Beware I got on anxiety medication, had my faith crisis, and began getting professional help I became so plagued with guilt I could barely live. Now I’ve gotten so much better at letting the guilt help me to repent and not beat myself up.
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