Conviction vs. Condemnation

We all deal with this subject, yet we also all seem to have trouble figuring out which is which at times.  There are some discussions going on here now that play into this.  One is Does God want me to feel good about myself?  Well the obvious answer is yes.  If we feel bad about ourselves, we’re not going to hold our heads up and proclaim the gospel.  We’re going to walk around with our heads slumped down around our shoulders in defeat.  So then why is it we seem to heap condemnation on one another? 

In another discussion Let us consider the mustard seed. , I had said “we say something, expect something, wait for something, and we don't see it happening, so we then wonder if maybe we don't have enough faith (condemnation).  We're quick to tell people they need more faith, thereby making them feel as if something is wrong with them if it's not happening (condemnation).

So is the condemnation what satan makes us think when we hear things like this, or is the condemnation in how we say things?

For example, in yet another discussion THE FRUIT OF OBEDIENCE 1 john 5.3, we talk about disobedience to God’s commands.  I hear some that believe when the Bible says “worry not”, “fear not”, those are commands and if we worry and fear, we’re being disobedient.  Yet every time Jesus speaks of the commands, he speaks of the Ten Commandments.  So are all these other things actually commandments or just admonishments to get us to seek after God so we can LEARN to shed our worry, fears, etc.  But when we “interpret” them as commandments and then say people are disobedient if they don’t obey God’s commandments, aren’t we doing more harm than good?  Aren’t we in essence telling them, you’re being disobedient, and therefore, there IS something wrong with you.  You’re not doing this as you should, you’re no good, you need to get right with God, etc.?  If we tell them they must not have enough faith, or we say let not the one that doubts think he shall receive anything, aren’t we judging that they don’t have enough faith or they are doubting just because they haven’t received what they keep praying for an aren’t understanding why it hasn’t come yet?

I know that we need to teach others what the Bible says, and that we need to hear the bad as well as the good sometimes, but sometimes it’s as if we look for the bad, seek it out, just for an answer to someone having a hard time, not knowing whether or not it is the true answer.  Some do blatantly live in disobedience.  Other times they try and try and cannot break a habit or a cycle.  We can tell them they’re disobedient and make them think what use is it to try anymore then, or we can tell them God loves them and He’ll help them overcome it if they just keep asking and keep trying, making them feel as if they’re on the right track even if they haven’t yet broken through to the other side. 

We’re all guilty of it.  I’m guilty of it.  So as not to bring condemnation to anyone to feel bad about having said these things, it’s just to make us think.  ;-)

I found this online and it says so much:  Condemnation shows you the problem, but conviction shows you the answer.

If telling someone to not doubt isn’t giving them the answer of how, it’s only going to condemn them.  If telling someone to stop worrying doesn’t give them the answer as to how to let go of worry that keeps returning, it will only condemn…giving them more to worry about.