I am persuaded

As I sit to write this, countless thoughts and ideas rush through my mind. At the heart of it all is the profound statement: I AM PERSUADED. But what exactly am I persuaded about? Who or what is persuading me? Do I even want to be persuaded? These questions echo in my mind, amplified by the voice of Archbishop Duncan Williams passionately proclaiming, “I AM PERSUADED!”

Initially, my approach to this piece was to dive into scripture, analyse it, and point out where we might be going wrong as believers. However, after discussing this with a friend and mentor, I realized that wasn’t the best route. This person gently suggested I reconsider my approach. That conversation, lasting about twenty minutes, shifted my perspective entirely. He persuaded me to consider a new direction—one that focused on personal experience. His words resonated: “If you haven’t experienced it, what can you truly tell someone who’s reading this, hoping to find a reason to be persuaded?”

This realization brought clarity: the most compelling way to preach Christ is through personal testimony. Scripture analysis is valuable, but without lived experience, it risks becoming a mere academic exercise, open to debate and interpretation. Instead, I chose to root this message in my journey, while still grounding it in scripture.

The Foundation of My Conviction

The central passage guiding this reflection is from 2 Timothy 1:12-14:

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Paul’s unwavering conviction resonates deeply. He was persuaded, not by abstract ideas, but by a personal relationship with Christ. Supporting this is Romans 4:21-25:

Being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

Finally, Romans 8:35-39 underscores the inseparability of God’s love:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Reality of Offense

Now that the foundation is laid, let’s take a ride through what I call my “Persuaded Villa.” One of the most significant challenges to our faith is offense, often arising in the very places we value most: our workplaces, social circles, and, yes, even the church. When offended, we might cut off the person responsible, but the environment—the workplace, the church—remains.

Sadly, for many Christians, church becomes the first casualty when they’re hurt. The church is abandoned because someone in church duped them, insulted them, or failed to meet their expectations. But why is it that we continue to return to workplaces that frustrate us? Is it because our salaries persuade us? Are our bills convincing us to stay? If we can endure workplace offenses for financial stability, why can’t we make the same room for the church or our Christian brethren?

Personal Lessons

I’ve had my fair share of offenses in the church, and I’ll share two examples that taught me the power of being persuaded to stay. First, imagine a Holy Spirit-filled worship leader, someone whose ministry you’ve admired, offending you. Can you still worship wholeheartedly under their leadership? Would you count it all joy, as scripture advises, or would you be counting down the minutes until their part of the service ends? Offenses like these test our ability to separate the vessel from the anointing. There’s the all-too-common issue of lending money in church and not getting it back. It’s become such a norm that expecting repayment makes you seem na?ve. These situations have driven many away from the church. But consider Joseph’s story: betrayed by his brothers, he still fulfilled God’s purpose. If Joseph could overcome such betrayal, can’t we?

Why I Stayed

Despite the hurts, I chose to stay. Why? Because I am persuaded that there is more to gain in fellowship than in isolation. The church isn’t perfect because it’s made up of imperfect people—myself included. But it is in this imperfect community that God refines us, teaches us, and uses us.

A Call to Action

So, I invite you to reflect: What persuades you? Is it offense that drives your decisions, or is it the unshakable love of Christ? Be persuaded by the knowledge that God is faithful to guard what you’ve entrusted to Him. Be persuaded to stay, to forgive, and to grow.

Let’s choose to remain in fellowship, not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it. As Paul said, “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able.” May we all live persuaded lives .

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