Anne Rice is typical of many who call themselves Christians who want to live by preference rather than by conviction to the Truth.
I am avid student of the late Dr. Edwin Louis Cole who wrote in his book “Real Man” about a lesson he learned from renowned Pastor A. R. Bernard of Brooklyn, New York, taught him the difference between preferences and convictions. It is the reason that a lot of churches are being torn apart today because of preferences rather than convictions. Dr. Bernard’s thoughts are:
1. People who live by preferences can be negotiated out of their preferences. Convictions are non-negotiable.
2. People who live by preferences weaken under pressure; those with convictions grow stronger.
3. I think this is important. People who live by preferences always dislike those who hold convictions.
We all have a lot of preferences in life. We have preferences with regard to music,cars and clothes. That’s OK, and it is what makes us all unique. But when it comes to the Truth in God’s Word, these are not preferences to us; but are rock-solid convictions which offend weak minded people like Anne Rice who have not truly embraced the faith.
William F. Buckley once characterized people who pick and choose Catholic principles they either wish to follow or wish to disdain as “Cafeteria Catholics”. Also reminds me of Orson Welles in the movie Moby Dick, where he had a great bit role as a New England preacher. His five minute sermon to the whalers deals with Jonah and the Whale and focuses on how Jonah (before the storm and the whale) hires a ship to take him to a land where God does not reign and where His laws do not apply.
Thank you, DV, I will be checking out Dr. Edwin Louis Cole’s book “Real Man”. How much sense that preferences vs. convictions comparison makes to me.