In this episode, we talk about how Christians should handle personal conviction issues and matters of conscience in the areas of life and conduct that don’t seem so clear. We define what a personal conviction or personal conscience issue is according to Scripture and learn three biblical principles to help you discern your own personal convictions and interact well with other Christians who hold different ones.
If you’ve ever wondered things like should Christians enjoy “secular” entertainment (like music, movies, and video games), should Christians drink alcohol in moderation, should Christians have tattoos, or what physical boundaries Christians should have in a dating relationship, this study will give you some general principles how Jesus followers should approach those kinds of questions. See below for episode outline, Bible passages, and additional resources.
Key Chapters: Romans 14 and 1 Corinthians 8-10. Specific verses relevant to each principle are below.
Cultural Context: For more on the historical-cultural context of these chapters and early Christians questioning whether to eat meat sold in the market that had been previously sacrificed to an idol, see the study notes on Romans 14, 1 Corinthians 8 and 1 Corinthians 10 in the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible and New Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible. You can access them at BibleGateway.com. Search the chapter, click Resources in the right side panel, select Study Bibles and then scroll to that study Bible. You can also view the Filament Bible App‘s study notes.
1. Follow the convictions God has given you personally.
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
- 1 Timothy 4:4-5
- Romans 14:22-23
2. Respect the personal convictions of other Christians, even if they are different from yours.
- Romans 14:1-4
- Romans 14:22-23
- 1 Corinthians 10:29-30
- 1 Corinthians 8:12
3. Honor the conscience of other Christians when you are with them.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9
- 1 Corinthians 10:25-30
LET’S TALK! How do you process issues of personal convictions and conscience as a Christian? Discuss this episode in the comments below!
