I know very few people who like being called out when they make a mistake, at the least I know I’m not fond of it, and yet as much as I’d rather people just pointed out all the wonderful things I do, I question if any of us can truly grow if we are never confronted with the things that we could do better.
From what I can see there are two common reactions to having a potential failing pointed out, conviction and condemnation.
In the dictionary conviction is described as “a formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a criminal offence” and “a firmly held belief or opinion.”
While condemnation is described as “the expression of very strong disapproval; censure” and “the action of condemning someone to a punishment; sentencing.”
The two descriptions read eerily similar, and yet they are not. While conviction may acknowledge that someone is guilty of something, it also indicates a firmly held idea. Conviction is about awareness, and the beauty of awareness is that it is the first step towards growth and change. Meanwhile condemnation has guilt and punishment attached to it, there is no wriggle room, no space to grow and change, there is only the consequences of actions.
Conviction is about awareness
Conviction is mentioned in the Bible multiple times. In 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Paul is talking to the Corinthians about their response to something he has said. It’s clear from the text that he had recently brought to their attention behaviours they were practicing that did not glorify God. What’s special about this text is that on hearing Paul’s critique, rather than allowing condemnation to eat away at them, the Corinthian church used the information Paul had provided to make lasting change. They were convicted. They acknowledged what was wrong, and they made a change.
In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul tells us that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”.
The Bible is a book of conviction, not condemnation. It provides us with correction, showing us where things don’t line up with God’s plan, while also providing us examples of how to do things better.
It can be easy to get down on ourselves when we realise, or it’s pointed out, that we have done or are doing, something wrong. It can be easy to allow condemnation to settle on us. But as Christ followers we don’t need to let those thoughts, feelings or actions to become a staple in our lives.
Romans 8:1 tells us that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”. In 1 John 3:20 it lets us know that “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything”. And then in John 3:17 is says “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”, then in Psalm 34:22 it goes as far to say that “The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”
Whether you have Jesus Christ or not you will experience correction. The difference is, with Christ, the condemnation that can often accompany correction cannot stick to you. Condemnation isn’t a ‘God thing’ and as one of His people it’s not something that you were made for, nor is it something you should take on. You were made for conviction. You were made to acknowledge what is pointed out to you, and assuming it lines up with what is acknowledged as wrong in God’s word, you were made to learn, grow and move past whatever that thing is.
You were made for conviction
If you find yourself stewing in a comment, a criticism, or an accusation perhaps its time to ask yourself, “Am I being convicted, or am I feeling condemned?”. If you are feeling convicted fabulous, this is an opportunity for you to make a change and grow more into the person God always intended you to be. But if you are feeling condemned its time to remind yourself of who God says you are, and first and foremost you are His, and He doesn’t condemn His people, He convicts them.
first and foremost you are His, and He doesn’t condemn His people, He convicts them.
Further Reading: Romans 8: 8-39