Standing on convictions is an important part of the Christian walk, but any stand we take must be grounded in Christ-like love.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Pastor Bryan Loritts says the way we manifest our convictions can be problematic.
“It’s one thing to have convictions and Christians should have them as relates to every area of life, especially politics. Government has been created by God, but what concerns me is the packaging.”
“Christians have not been known as being a people who are loving, kind, and gracious in the manifestation of their convictions in a context in which they disagree. It’s the idea of civility.”
Even though our track-record might not be squeaky clean, we can do something about it.
“We should never forget that Jesus says, you will be known by your love. So may everything we do really be packaged with this sense of grace and love because we have received the performance free grace and love of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
We love because we are loved. We are called to love the least of these as Christ as loved us. According to Bryan, Jesus set the ultimate example of disadvantaging Himself for us.
“This is fundamental to the Gospel Jesus Christ. God in flesh. In Heaven, He had all the comforts and accouterments of life in heaven and yet what does he do, He disadvantages himself for our sake. We have not been invited to incarnate those things and to flesh them out, just not to gain God’s approval.”
Standing on convictions is an important part of the Christian walk, but any stand we take must be grounded in Christ-like love.
Bryan Loritts is the Lead Pastor of Abundant Life Church in Silicon Valley, California. He also serves as the President of the Kainos Movement, an organization committed to seeing the multi-ethnic church become the new normal in our world. He’s been a featured speaker at the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, Catalyst and a host of other events.
Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15
Featured Songs: More than Conquerors – Steven Curtis Chapman; Impossible Things – Chris Tomlin; We are Listening – Steven Curtis Chapman
Standing on our convictions in love
