Spare Change

Believe It or Not

Posted by Bryan

What do you believe?

More important, how do you know?

I've been struck by these twin questions the past couple weeks. In the work I do, "belief" is a dominant force and factor in the decisions are made. So much so, in fact, that it basically is so inherent that this reality is simply taken for granted.

Recently, though, its become clear to me that this is always the case, with everyone, all the time.

Here's the thesis, if you've been looking for it: The only way to determine what you really believe is by the conduct of your life.

Epiphany? Maybe not. Profound revelation? Not so much. However, look around and you find a world in obvious disconnect with its declared beliefs.

Do you believe it is important to tell the truth?

Most people would affirm they believe this....

...and in doing so prove themselves to be liars because of all the lies, little and big that they tell their spouses, their children, their parents, their siblings, their neighbors, their coworkers, their friends, total strangers, and even themselves.

Do you believe it is wrong to cheat or to steal?

Again, most people would say this is so....

...but just don't look at their tax return they just filed, their garage of unreturned tools, their drawers filled with office supplies from work, or their towels swiped from the luxury hotel.

Maybe I'm being legalistic. I'm not trying to be. I certainly believe in grace.

At least I say I do. And I really believe that I believe in grace.

And there's the rub.

"Believe" has come to mean something other than what it means.

You see, "belief" used to represent conviction, moral certainty. It has fallen down a slippery slope to instead represent an elusive inclination; a moral likelihood.

Over time, we've come to equate a deliberative statement like, "I believe I'll go to either the Olive Garden or Schlotsky's for lunch" with an unequivocable declaration like "I believe adultery is wrong." Unfortunately, the end result is a population of people having noontime affairs at Bennigans.

Do you believe in "The Golden Rule?"

Really?

The proof is shown in the doing.

If you gossip...at all...then you really don't.

If you intentionally hurt others...even a little, just for seemingly justified or defensible reasons...then you really don't.

If you are harsh, critical, or condemning....especially over little things...well, guess what? Your actions have revealed your true beliefs.

Do you believe in God?

Really?

Truly?

Does your conduct shout otherwise?

Beth Moore (author and teacher) makes a good distinction between believing in God and believing God. As I understand her presentation, believing in reflects an institutional acknowledgement of existence. Remove the preposition, though, and you paradoxically add a dimension of intimacy and personal fidelity.

So you can say you believe in God, the same way you believe in democracy, in the double switch in late innings, and in waiting 30 minutes after eating before swimming. Amen, pass the apple pie. Such belief is good and decent and of little personal cost or risk.

But this believing in God is not the same as believing God.

This latter belief is especially demonstrated in the "doing."

The Bible says that faith without works is dead.

Chew on that for a moment, and see if you believe what the Bible declares.

< Howie Mandel>"Belief" equals "Faith." Deal or no deal?< /Howie Mandel>

If you agree, then the implication is that your works (or your conduct, your actions, your very life) will express it.

Do you go to God first, or only as a last resort? Or at all?

Do you do what God has told you to do in the Bible, or do you make excuses to do what you want?

Do believe that God means what he says and says what he means?

The Bible deals extensively with this matter, and there's a growth edge for all of us.

Jesus said that if we have faith the size of an itsy bitsy mustard seed, we will see a life marked by greatness.

How very little faith must exist in so many lives, as marked by such an absence of great things.

Peter walked on water when his belief in Jesus was so focused that it shut out every other distraction. The moment his belief was compromised by diversion, he plunged.

God has a unique way of using your life to put your beliefs to the test. The exam is pass/fail and one day we'll each get a report card. My hope for you is the same as it is for me...

....that your belief will pass the test of time.

April 11, 2006 9:01 AM