Question: As the head of my home, is it my responsibility to lead my family in the personal convictions I’ve come to hold?

Answer:

Yes! However, allow me to encourage you regarding two key points.  First, make sure “your convictions” are truly “biblical convictions” and not preferences.  Secondly, “how” you lead is vitally important.

“Biblical convictions” are those things that you believe and practice because they are the clear, accurate teachings/commands of Scripture. They represent “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

The sum of the “biblical teaching” about who God is, His plan for redemption through Jesus Christ and His promises, plans and commands for His followers!

These include the “core doctrines” of the historic Christian faith like the triune nature of God, the nature/purpose of man, the person and work of Jesus Christ, the role of the Holy Spirit in salvation/sanctification, the inerrancy and authority of Scripture and the “gospel of grace”, to name just a few.

Preferences are “personal” convictions that do not “bind” others.  They are not the clear commands of Scripture which evey believer is subject to obey!  They are not to be laid on another person like a command of Scripture.  For example:  “Thou shalt only wear ties ( for men) or dresses (for women) to church” is not a biblical command!

Finally, how you “live out” your biblical and personal convictions is essential. I believe the term that best captures how we are to live our convictions in the family, church and the culture is to be a “servant-leader.”  Our “life-example” as husbands, wives and children truly reveals what we believe and value.

The following little phrase constantly helps to remind me of the awesome biblical responsibility and the eternal significance attached to leading my wife and family in God’s ways:

“What we believe is more caught than taught”

So, understand what’s biblical – practice it and teach it!  (Read Ezra 7:10.)  Remember to always clearly differentiate between biblical principle and personal preference  (“ties” & “dresses”)!

And …”Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31).

For further study on this topic, I recommend picking up the following two books:

“The Fulfilled Family” by John MacArthur

“Instruments in the Hand of the Redeemer” by Paul David Tripp