I have been studying for seminary the past few weeks and really enjoying one particular book - What Is Christianity all About? By Alan Scholes. In it, Scholes writes about the difference between convictions, persuasions and opinions of the Christian faith.
"Convictions are central beliefs, crucial to salvation, over which we would be willing to denounce someone in serious disagreement and (if there is no repentance) eventually divide fellowship. Persuasions are beliefs about which we are personally certain but which are not crucial to salvation. We must accept believers with differing persuasions as members in good standing of God's family, even when we are certain they are wrong on these points. Opinions are beliefs about subjects on which either (1) we have a preference but acknowledge that others also may be right in holding a different view, or (2) we do not have any confidence that we yet know the truth about the matter." Scholes, p.21,22
There are many subjects within the Christian faith that are debated between denominations and sects and I believe that having these categories will help with understanding in discussing views. What do you think are convictions, persuasions and opinions of the Christian faith?
