This sermon deals with the Christian's need to combine conviction and compassion. It specifically related this theme to the issue of homosexuality, but I was more impacted by it on a general level and how it applies to my life. The pastor, Mark Adams of Redland Baptist Church, argues that compassion and conviction must be in balance. In my few short years as a committed Christian, I have seen myself at both extremes, and I know I need to find the middle ground.

Adams states:

If for example you are a person with great conviction but no compassion, well you?ll become just like those love-less Pharisees and Sadducees, people who were so judgmental that their hearts became hardened to the point that they were no longer sensitive to the needs of others.

I think we have all crossed paths with people like this before. I used to be a person like this myself. When I first made a serious commitment to Christ, I had a great deal of conviction. Some, like avoiding premarital sex, were good and right. Some, like the belief that any consumption of alcohol is a sin, were not right. Extrabiblical convictions such as that can cause more trouble than the convictions clearly taught by scripture, but the main problem wasn't the truthfulness of my convictions. It was the way in which I handled them. I intended to be uncompromising and "sold out" but I came across as rude, judgemental, and arrogant. It almost cost me a couple of good friendships.

Adams continues:

And, on the other hand, if we are people of ONLY compassion with no real beliefs, no convictions, then we become people who are merely sentimental... people with no conscience -- no moral base-- people like those described in this morning's text who suppress the truth and as a result have, depraved minds and do what ought not to be done.

In the last year, I have noticed that I have gone a bit too far in this direction. It's not that I have lost a belief in core Biblical convictions, but I rarely express those convictions to other people. Am I valuing the love of my friends at the cost of my relationship with Christ? I would like to believe that I am living out the words of St. Francis of Assisi -- "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." But the question then comes to my mind, when is it necessary?

The opinion of other people should not be the biggest factor in determining one's right place, but they can be an indicator. Am I seen by my friends as a person of conviction, compassion, both, or neither? Do they take seriously the fact that I call myself a Christian, or do they dismiss it because I do not speak up about my beliefs often enough? Did I present a skewed picture of Biblical Christianity when I obviously lacked compassion? I believe I did. But am I now presenting another false picture by a lack of stated conviction? I'm not sure, but I believe that my compassion has earned (or regained) the trust of others, which is certainly a good thing. However, if I see someone I care about walking the wrong path, am I being a poor steward of their trust and actually displaying a lack of love by not sharing my beliefs to guide them towards the right path?

Right now I feel like I have a lot more questions than answers, but my hope is that the answers will come. I desire to be a "good witness" whatever that means.