Conviction

Integrity

We all have some way that we think or hope that other people see us. I don’t mean that we are all so fraudulent or disguised, only that we want to be perceived in a certain way. As a matter of fact, to truly live without any type of social inhibition would actually make a person a psychopath. What I’m talking about is the “you be you” philosophy. In Scripture, we are not told to aspire to just be ourselves, but rather, to be conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) and to be holy like God (1 Peter 1:14-16).

However, who are we when no one else is around? Integrity is the level of honesty that we have with ourselves and with God. We need to be people who are not driven to an ethic of pragmatism that conforms to the shifting standards of culture. Rather our lives as believers must have foundations that are built on the bedrock of God’s revealed truth in the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:24-27). 

This kind of genine integrity is only the result of cultivating a biblical fear of the Lord. So long as we continue to presume upon God’s grace to excuse selfish and sinful lifestyles we cannot be people who have real fear of God. Without this kind of biblical fear we will be ignorant and foolish because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). 

Passion

But, for integrity to bring forth true conviction and not just mere opinion, there must be a genuine pathos. By using the term pathos, I mean that this must go beyond just the intellectual level to the emotions and the will. This kind of intense affection can be motivated positively or negatively.

On the positive side we can be deeply moved by our love for others. We can develop a firm conviction based on a proven relationship that we have with someone. This is also true of the way we can have trust in the honesty of an individual. For instance, we have infinite evidence of the truthfulness of God and so we ought to have a conviction whereby we trust in the Lord and His promises regardless of our situation or circumstances (Hebrews 6:13-20).

However, conviction can also be the product of deep brokenness. When we look around at the sin and godlessness of the world and even our own culture we ought to be moved to plead with God for mercy. Do we not believe that God will judge us? We ought to be broken over the rampant abuse, wickedness, pride, and evil that has become common in this evil generation. This kind of brokenness should result in us being more faithful in fellowship, more fervent in prayer, and more fearless in our evangelism.

Unction

As a preacher and teacher I am often asking God to grant me unction. This is the convergence of solid truth with power conviction. When we share the good news of Christ or the great truths of Scripture what should be evident to everyone is that we truly believe what we are saying. I have heard a story that a famous atheist was on his way to hear the great evangelist George Whitfield preach in the open air and someone asked him why he was going since he did not believe in Whitfield’s God. He responded that he was going to hear Whitfield because Whitfield believed in God! The point is simple: we must be utterly convinced of the truth and veracity of what God has revealed in the Bible if we are to be any earthly good to the heavenly goal!

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