Sunday School Today: Doctrine and Convictions

There is a difference between the clear statements of the Holy Scriptures and those areas of Scripture that are not essential to the faith. While all scripture is profitable and beneficial to us (2 Timothy 3:16-17), we need to be prepared to have discussions with others where there is not always an agreement as to the importance of certain texts or verses that are supplemental to the cardinal doctrines of Jesus Christ. While you may be convicted to follow Christ with certain behaviors in your efforts of sincere reverence of Him, these are not to be presented in such a way to others on the level of a cardinal doctrine such as that of salvation or the resurrection. Avoid situations where your convictions of God’s Word can cause arguments with others or show a lack or respect for others because they do not have the level of conviction that you do. It is important for all of us who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior to continue to read and study and grow in our knowledge of God’s Word through the Holy Spirit, but in areas where we do not agree we need to allow for disagreement for the sake of unity within the body of Christ. We are all to be open to learn more through God’s Word, and vain arguments and discussions over our convictions and related differences are to be avoided at all costs for the sake of the gospel of Christ (1 Timothy 1:3-4; Romans 14:1-15:7).