Our Convictions About Marriage Series

To begin our study today it would probably be helpful to discuss the difference between a conviction and a preference or an inclination or something like that. Difference between a conviction and a preference, according to the U.S. Supreme Court. "A preference is a very strong belief, held with great strength. You can give your entire life in a full-time way to the service of the preference, and can also give your entire material wealth in the name of the belief. You can also energetically proselytize others to your preference. You can also want to teach this belief to your children, and the Supreme court may still rule that it is a preference. A preference is a strong belief, but a belief that you will change under the right circumstances. Circumstances such as: 1) peer pressure; if your beliefs are such that other people stand with you before you will stand, your beliefs are preferences, not convictions, 2) family pressure, 3) lawsuits, 4) jail, 5) threat of death; would you die for your beliefs? A conviction is a belief that you will not change. Why? A man believes that his God requires it of him. Preferences aren't protected by the constitution. Convictions are. A conviction is not something that you discover, it is something that you purpose in your heart (cf. Daniel 1, 2-3). Convictions on the inside will always show up on the outside, in a person's lifestyle. To violate a conviction would be a sin." David C. Gibbs, Jr.

It has also been said that, "Many people are what they are by tradition, not conviction." If it shouldn't be a preference and it shouldn't be a tradition, and it shouldn't be a prejudice, then what should be the source for our convictions where marriage is concerned?

1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

a. The foundation for our convictions

It is obvious that a conviction must be based on something (truth) that is objective rather than subjective. If a conviction by definition is something that does not change then it stands to reason that it must have as its source something that does not change. The Scriptures are "forever settled in heaven," and the principles, precepts, statutes, laws and commandments do not change because the author of the Scriptures does not change.

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.