When the Bible forbids lying, it's a commandment, not a conviction. A conviction is what I personally perceive that I should or shouldn't do, or what I personally perceive as what is wrong or what is right, based on what I have learned from the Bible. When I'm commanded to do or not do something it's then a matter for me of obedience or disobedience. I can't just excuse my sin because I don't feel it's wrong when the Bible says it is so.

I tend to think in supernatural terms and I believe a conviction is more than just a preferential thought. When I was still a relatively young and immature Christian my wife and I visited a shop on our vacation and the woman who greeted us was friendly and courteous. The store was colorful and interesting looking and had a cottage charm, but we were in the store for a very short time before something made me want to leave without further delay. We did just that. I found out later that the shop was a supply store for the study and revival of gnosticism. I had no knowledge at the time of gnosticism, and I believe the Holy Spirit didn't want us in that shop. I didn't make a decision to leave the shop based on a preference, I believe the Holy Spirit gave me the conviction to do so.

I also believe a conviction is a personal value. I prefer beef over chicken. That's a personal preference. I'm not sinning if I eat beef. I have a friend who believes drinking coffee is a sin. The Bible doesn't say so. If I had the "conviction" that drinking coffee was sinful and I drank it, I would be sinning by drinking it.

1st Corinthians Chapter 8 is sometimes referred to as the "weaker brother" passage. The weaker brother (or sister) in Christ isn't just a person who thinks a certain thing is sin, they're also the kind of person who is probably going to do what they perceive as wrong once they've seen a stronger brother or sister doing it. If somebody in the church thinks that it's wrong to work on Sunday for example, they might be offended when I do it. They don't demonstrate that they're a weaker brother however until they "follow my lead" and work on Sunday too, but still feel wrong somehow about doing it.

In the same way that I shouldn't knowingly hold my Christian liberties in the face of the "weaker member of the body", I shouldn't hold my convictions up over the heads of my fellow believers when I've no interest in or intention of doing what they're doing. I do think though, in light of our growth in Christ that it's important to remember the following passage written by Paul, who said;

20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- 21 Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Colossians 2:20-23

Peace in His name,
David