Page 69 boundaries of God’s will that were not shared with other believers. Moses delivered the Law from Mount Sinai. That was the beginning of the 613 laws found in the Old Covenant. Interestingly, Christians have devised their own set of laws. What follows is a list of convictions held by various Christians that I have known throughout the years: God’s will is for all Christians . . . to never listen to secular music. to vote Republican. to vote Democrat. to begin a ministry for homeless people and prisoners. to begin a campaign to fight abortion, pornography, and gay marriage. to not own a television set. to not own two television sets. to never support the military and to be against all wars. to have home births. to homeschool their children. to not use birth control. to have as many children as possible. to watch only G or PG movies. to not attend movie cinemas or theaters.
Feelings of sorrow alone aren't necessarily conviction. We can be sorrowful for many reasons, including selfish ones. We can be sorry for the bad consequences of our sin, sorry we were caught, sorry we lost someone's respect. The kind of worldly grief can't begin to address the true offense of sin, and it can't begin to change us [see 2 Cor. 7:8-9]. Only godly grief brings repentance. And only repentance testifies to the surgical effect of God's truth applied to our sinful hearts.
Dave Harvey