Lent@Landmark: Day 25

In many cases we may say we find ourselves conflicts because of our convictions, more often than not it’s because of our commitments. Consider Judas Iscariot’s journey:

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. (Matthew 26:14-16)

Judas had convictions. He believed that the Messiah would lead the Jews in war against the Romans to reclaim their rightful ownership of the Promised Land. That conviction led him to a commitment to Jesus for a time, but then he made his commitment to the chief priests. “And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.”

His entire approach to every moment was now different because of this new commitment.

Convictions are supposed to help us see what is wise vs. what is foolish, helpful vs. unhelpful, or constructive vs. destructive. Groups can form around convictions, and commitments to them can be helpful as long as the convictions remain central. Once the commitment takes center stage, however, convictions become flexible, and all we can see is us vs. them.

Nothing could be more contrary to the mind of Christ than that.