What we believe shapes us and identifies us! Each fall for the past 12 years, I have believed that my beloved professional football team, the Washington Redskins, will win the Super Bowl. The basis of my belief is not player talent or coaching expertis but rather a hope that if I believe hard enough it might happen. My hoping has yielded nothing.
Our opinions on world affairs and daily living are often developed in similar ways. We hold to beliefs, not based on truth or reality, but upon:
- Issues we hope will triumph (often leading to "us vs. them" attitudes imbedded in rancorous words)
- Behaviors we seek to justify (often leading to unwise/unhealthy thinking or activity)
- Political ideals (sometimes leading to a compromise of spiritual truth )
In what do we, as followers of Jesus, believe? On what do we base our view of the world and our subsequent behavior? Interestingly, the book Think Like Jesus, by George Barna suggests that for most people who would call themselves Christian, the basis of their belief is NOT God's Word, the Bible. Barna's research indicates that of the 80 million Americans who claim to be Christians only 7 million have a biblical belief system.
What we think and how we act are shaped by what we believe. When we choose to place our confidence in something other than Jesus and His Word we weaken the ability to integrate our faith in Him into the issues of the world and issues of personal life. This week, let us examine our lives to see if Truth is the foundation of our belief and our subsequent actions.
"I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life. . . " (John 14:6)
Oh, by the way, watch out for the Redskins this year!
Sharing the journey with you,
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