Squishy Faith
Have you noticed that American Christianity has gone squishy?
Perhaps it’s the consumer culture. Maybe it’s the “Me Generation” coming of age. It might be that the Bible has taken a back seat to the entertainment industry in the recent decades. It certainly has something to do with a lack of sound doctrine being preached and taught in our churches.
A lot of people are now under the impression that it doesn’t make any difference WHAT you believe, as long as you believe something. Of course, that is faulty logic. For instance, you might believe it’s safe to step out of a flying airplane without a parachute, but you’ll come to a rude awakening in a few seconds. WHAT we believe is vitally important.
We need to know the Truth in order to be set free. (John 8:32) Hosea 4:6 says, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.”
The average church member knows less about the Bible today than the average non-believer did a hundred years ago. When Christians decry the demise of our culture, we must understand that the failure began with us. Somehow, the church has lost her voice when it is needed most.
Friend, I have two questions for you.
1) Do you know what you believe?
2) Do you believe what you know?
I am committed to helping followers of Christ know more fully what they believe. Of course, we will have differences of opinion on a wide variety of subjects – but in the main things – the most important things – we need to know, understand and agree.
John Wesley said it this way: “In essentials, unity; In non-essentials, diversity; and in all things, charity.”
Perhaps, the bigger question of the two is the second: Do you believe what you know? We might SAY we believe something – but if we don’t live it, do we truly believe it? Our faith and love is proven by what we DO rather than what we SAY.
In old English, the word “believe” means “live-by.” Do you live by it??
If a faith isn’t worth living, it’s not worth much.
Really living what the Bible says, through the power of the Holy Spirit is called holiness. That is what God calls us to be – a holy people.
What is the evidence of living it? Loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.
God help us to know what we believe, to believe what we know, and to truly live what we profess.
Perhaps it’s the consumer culture. Maybe it’s the “Me Generation” coming of age. It might be that the Bible has taken a back seat to the entertainment industry in the recent decades. It certainly has something to do with a lack of sound doctrine being preached and taught in our churches.
A lot of people are now under the impression that it doesn’t make any difference WHAT you believe, as long as you believe something. Of course, that is faulty logic. For instance, you might believe it’s safe to step out of a flying airplane without a parachute, but you’ll come to a rude awakening in a few seconds. WHAT we believe is vitally important.
We need to know the Truth in order to be set free. (John 8:32) Hosea 4:6 says, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.”
The average church member knows less about the Bible today than the average non-believer did a hundred years ago. When Christians decry the demise of our culture, we must understand that the failure began with us. Somehow, the church has lost her voice when it is needed most.
Friend, I have two questions for you.
1) Do you know what you believe?
2) Do you believe what you know?
I am committed to helping followers of Christ know more fully what they believe. Of course, we will have differences of opinion on a wide variety of subjects – but in the main things – the most important things – we need to know, understand and agree.
John Wesley said it this way: “In essentials, unity; In non-essentials, diversity; and in all things, charity.”
Perhaps, the bigger question of the two is the second: Do you believe what you know? We might SAY we believe something – but if we don’t live it, do we truly believe it? Our faith and love is proven by what we DO rather than what we SAY.
In old English, the word “believe” means “live-by.” Do you live by it??
If a faith isn’t worth living, it’s not worth much.
Really living what the Bible says, through the power of the Holy Spirit is called holiness. That is what God calls us to be – a holy people.
What is the evidence of living it? Loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself.
God help us to know what we believe, to believe what we know, and to truly live what we profess.
Brilliant Mark. Very well said!
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