AoO Chapter 8: Convictions and Wisdom

Tripp recounts the story of him and his wife going away to a weekend conference. His son would stay with a family friend from church. Before his son arrived, the other boys had rented several movies. His son soon realized that the movie contained material he shouldn't be watching. What should he do? He could watch the movies and no one would know. He ended up trying to convince them not to watch it, and they thought he was "being stupid". His son exercised his faith and had to deal with the persecution.

It's one thing to do what's right under the watchful eye of another person. It's another thing to exercise convictions from the heart when only God is watching.

GOAL 2: Developing heart of Conviction and Wisdom
Tripp starts this section by recounting another story. His son had gotten a part-time job and was asked to do something that wasn't in his job description. They talked about it and his son wanted him to make the decision for him. Tripp did not do that because he believed that the situation was sent by God to develop him. There was no clear-cut right or wrong answer, so Tripp prayed that God would give him wisdom. His son did what he believed was right, after thinking and praying about it. Then got fired!

But, even in the firing, there was chance to talk about life in a broken world, the blessings of doing things God's way, and what it means to entrust yourself in God's care.

This situation was quite different from the movie incident. The first situation (movie) had to do with "clear-boundary" issues. These have a clear right or wrong answer from God's perspective. The other situation is a "wisdom" issue, where there is no clear right or wrong answer. "Wisdom" issues should not be solved like "clear-boundary" issues.

The tendency is to go towards one of two extremes in dealing with "wisdom" issues:

1. Legalism: making everything a rigid boundary issue
2. Foolishness: concluding that anything that is not an obvious boundary issue is unimportant

The author cites 6 characteristics of Biblical conviction. These convictions are needed to deal with "clear-boundary" issues in life:

1. It's based upon and a study of, submission to, and application of Scripture
2. It's predetermined
3. It doesn't depend on circumstances
   
4. It's inflexible
5. It's bold
6. It's always lived out

Tripp cites 10 issues to consider when dealing with "wisdom" issues:

1. Submitting to the authorities God has put over us
2. Giving grace to others
3. Committing ourselves to the truth
4. Serving as ambassadors for Christ (e.g. Would I be able to share the gospel afterward?)
   
5. Seeking wise counsel
6. Living lives of faithfulness and integrity (keeping our word)
7. Trusting in the sovereignty of God
8. Living for what's eternal
9. Examining our heart, desires, motives
10. Living for God's glory

The strategies for developing convictions and wisdom are rooted in principles Tripp has been stating all along:

• See these difficult situations God-given opportunities to develop a Biblical mind
• Resist making the decision for your teenager
• Be persistent in drawing out the heart of your teenager (ask open-ended questions)
• Help your teenager determine if the issue is a clear-boundary or a wisdom issue
  

Alex's thoughts: I really like the "clear-boundary" and "wisdom" categories Tripp describes. They give us a good framework for knowing how to approach situations when they arise.