Romans 12:9 “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”  What do you stand for and what will you not stand for?  If we don’t stand for something, we can fall for almost anything.  If we tolerate evil, we will also fall.  In our culture today, tolerance of almost any view or lifestyle has become an accepted and politically correct virtue.  I cannot call it a virtue.  We are told to be tolerant and to have an open mind about everything.  This has resulted in many people not standing for anything.  An open mind is like the open end of a garbage truck which takes in whatever is thrown into it.  If we stand for Christ and the truth of God’s Word, we are often called a bigot and intolerant.  The fact is that those who make these accusations are the most intolerant of all by attacking our Christian faith and walk.  What they don’t know is that we win and they lose.

An opinion is something that you hold and can often change.  A conviction is something that holds you and drives your leadership, attitudes, actions and Christian walk.  Our verse this week tells us that we are to hate evil and hold onto what is good.  We are to hate sin but love the sinner with Jesus being our example.  We will be opposed for our Christian and biblical convictions but it is the only way to live and lead with a future.  It really comes down to the bottom line of whether we live to please God or man.  As you lead your family, develop strong convictions based upon God’s Word and transfer them to your wife and children.  You may be faced with the issue of “others may be doing something but you and your family are not.”  Why?  Because you are living and leading for the truth of God’s Word and for eternity on which it is founded.  All other ground is “sinking sand.”  Develop your convictions in life based on God’s Word, not the culture and world.  These are the only two choices before you.