Belief
Not long ago, I had the second “installment” of a conversation with one of my clients. I will refer to him as Bruce, although that is not his real name. The first installment took place over a year ago, when Bruce was in my office taking care of a business transaction.
Here is some background…
Bruce was in the midst of divorce proceedings, and living with another of my clients. We’ll call her Sally. Sally was also divorced. Bruce and Sally had known each other in high school, and had reconnected after their marriages crashed.
When I talked with Bruce over a year ago, I asked him if he and Sally intended to get married. He replied “Probably not. It’s just a piece of paper, anyway.” When we talked again recently, I heard the story of the divorce, and the events that triggered it.
Bruce and Barb (not her real name) had been married for about 25 years, with two children ages 19 and 23. Bruce described himself as an attentive, devoted husband. He worked his blue collar job each day and came straight home to his family. There were no stops at the local “watering hole” for him. He loved his wife and his kids, and wanted to be with them. He didn’t spend much money on himself, but made certain that his wife and kids were provided for. As I listened to him talk, I realized that this was his version of things, but he seemed very genuine, and there wasn’t a hint of bitterness in his voice.
About four years ago, Barb decided to lose some weight. She began exercising, watched her diet, and lost 40 pounds. Not long after that, one of her co-workers, who was also married, began to pay attention to her, and his attention led to an affair. Bruce found out when someone placed a note on the windshield of his truck, advising him that Barb was involved with another man.
As I talked with Bruce that evening, I spoke to him in terms of the culture, and the “false truth claims” with which we are constantly bombarded. Although I have no way of knowing what was going on in Barb’s heart and mind, it is possible that she was operating on the basis of some, if not all of the following lies of the culture:
“I deserve to be happy. It’s all about me.”
“My happiness is so important, that it justifies any pain I might cause others.”
“Lots of people have ‘affairs’. It happens all the time.”
“There is nothing sacred about marriage vows.”
“The ability to attract men builds my self-esteem.”
If asked, I doubt that Barb could have identified and articulated the belief system by which she was operating. Nonetheless, that belief system determined her actions. This is true of all people, non-believers and believers alike. For believers who want to be used by God to transform the culture, it is absolutely critical that we be able to answer a huge question: What do I believe?
This question is so broad as to be intimidating. Permit me to offer a few clarifying questions as you contemplate your beliefs:
· Do I believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God?
· Who is man? His essence, his state, his need?
· Who is God?
· What is truth? How do I find it?
· What is my relationship to God?
· What makes me “right” with God?
· What does creation tell me about God?
· What is God’s design for the family?
· What is God’s design for the church?
· What is God’s design for the state?
· What is God’s design for labor?
· What is God’s design for community?
It’s important to remember that even if we haven’t clearly identified what out beliefs are in each area listed above, we believe something, and that “something” will determine out thoughts and actions.
The evidence of what we really believe is really real is found in the conduct of our lives. When we really believe something, we “trust” it, and are willing to act on the basis of that trust.
In my office, there is a black leather chair behind my desk. If someone were to ask me “Do you believe that chair can support your body weight?”, my answer would be “Yes”. I wouldn’t even have to think about it. Let’s suppose this person then inquired as to whether I was willing to act on that belief. I would immediately sit in the chair, demonstrating by my action that I really believed that the chair could support my weight.
Now I can assure you that I have seated myself in an office chair thousands of time over the years, and I never once went through the mental process of asking myself if I believed that the chair could support my weight – I just sat down! Here is the point: Even though I do not think about what I believe about the chair, I still act according to the belief. I am convinced that this is happening in other areas of my life, and this is probably true of you as well.
There is real danger in operating on the basis of unidentified or unexamined beliefs. The danger lies in the reality that we, just like Barb, may be operating according to “wrong beliefs” which the world rains down upon us. This is one of the reasons “quiet time” is so important. Our time alone with God gives us the opportunity to allow the Spirit to search our hearts and minds. It is there, in those moments of Spirit guided introspection that we truly prepare for our role in the Cosmic Battle.
As we bring Session IV of our Truth Process journey to a close, I leave you with an excerpt from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest”:
WHERE THE BATTLE IS WON OR LOST
“Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.
I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.
In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.”
Not long ago, I had the second “installment” of a conversation with one of my clients. I will refer to him as Bruce, although that is not his real name. The first installment took place over a year ago, when Bruce was in my office taking care of a business transaction.
Here is some background…
Bruce was in the midst of divorce proceedings, and living with another of my clients. We’ll call her Sally. Sally was also divorced. Bruce and Sally had known each other in high school, and had reconnected after their marriages crashed.
When I talked with Bruce over a year ago, I asked him if he and Sally intended to get married. He replied “Probably not. It’s just a piece of paper, anyway.” When we talked again recently, I heard the story of the divorce, and the events that triggered it.
Bruce and Barb (not her real name) had been married for about 25 years, with two children ages 19 and 23. Bruce described himself as an attentive, devoted husband. He worked his blue collar job each day and came straight home to his family. There were no stops at the local “watering hole” for him. He loved his wife and his kids, and wanted to be with them. He didn’t spend much money on himself, but made certain that his wife and kids were provided for. As I listened to him talk, I realized that this was his version of things, but he seemed very genuine, and there wasn’t a hint of bitterness in his voice.
About four years ago, Barb decided to lose some weight. She began exercising, watched her diet, and lost 40 pounds. Not long after that, one of her co-workers, who was also married, began to pay attention to her, and his attention led to an affair. Bruce found out when someone placed a note on the windshield of his truck, advising him that Barb was involved with another man.
As I talked with Bruce that evening, I spoke to him in terms of the culture, and the “false truth claims” with which we are constantly bombarded. Although I have no way of knowing what was going on in Barb’s heart and mind, it is possible that she was operating on the basis of some, if not all of the following lies of the culture:
“I deserve to be happy. It’s all about me.”
“My happiness is so important, that it justifies any pain I might cause others.”
“Lots of people have ‘affairs’. It happens all the time.”
“There is nothing sacred about marriage vows.”
“The ability to attract men builds my self-esteem.”
If asked, I doubt that Barb could have identified and articulated the belief system by which she was operating. Nonetheless, that belief system determined her actions. This is true of all people, non-believers and believers alike. For believers who want to be used by God to transform the culture, it is absolutely critical that we be able to answer a huge question: What do I believe?
This question is so broad as to be intimidating. Permit me to offer a few clarifying questions as you contemplate your beliefs:
· Do I believe that the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God?
· Who is man? His essence, his state, his need?
· Who is God?
· What is truth? How do I find it?
· What is my relationship to God?
· What makes me “right” with God?
· What does creation tell me about God?
· What is God’s design for the family?
· What is God’s design for the church?
· What is God’s design for the state?
· What is God’s design for labor?
· What is God’s design for community?
It’s important to remember that even if we haven’t clearly identified what out beliefs are in each area listed above, we believe something, and that “something” will determine out thoughts and actions.
The evidence of what we really believe is really real is found in the conduct of our lives. When we really believe something, we “trust” it, and are willing to act on the basis of that trust.
In my office, there is a black leather chair behind my desk. If someone were to ask me “Do you believe that chair can support your body weight?”, my answer would be “Yes”. I wouldn’t even have to think about it. Let’s suppose this person then inquired as to whether I was willing to act on that belief. I would immediately sit in the chair, demonstrating by my action that I really believed that the chair could support my weight.
Now I can assure you that I have seated myself in an office chair thousands of time over the years, and I never once went through the mental process of asking myself if I believed that the chair could support my weight – I just sat down! Here is the point: Even though I do not think about what I believe about the chair, I still act according to the belief. I am convinced that this is happening in other areas of my life, and this is probably true of you as well.
There is real danger in operating on the basis of unidentified or unexamined beliefs. The danger lies in the reality that we, just like Barb, may be operating according to “wrong beliefs” which the world rains down upon us. This is one of the reasons “quiet time” is so important. Our time alone with God gives us the opportunity to allow the Spirit to search our hearts and minds. It is there, in those moments of Spirit guided introspection that we truly prepare for our role in the Cosmic Battle.
As we bring Session IV of our Truth Process journey to a close, I leave you with an excerpt from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost For His Highest”:
WHERE THE BATTLE IS WON OR LOST
“Our battles are first won or lost in the secret places of our will in God’s presence, never in full view of the world. The Spirit of God seizes me and I am compelled to get alone with God and fight the battle before Him. Until I do this, I will lose every time. The battle may take one minute or one year, but that will depend on me, not God. However long it takes, I must wrestle with it alone before God, and I must resolve to go through the hell of renunciation or rejection before Him. Nothing has any power over someone who has fought the battle before God and won there.
I should never say, "I will wait until I get into difficult circumstances and then I’ll put God to the test." Trying to do that will not work. I must first get the issue settled between God and myself in the secret places of my soul, where no one else can interfere. Then I can go ahead, knowing with certainty that the battle is won. Lose it there, and calamity, disaster, and defeat before the world are as sure as the laws of God. The reason the battle is lost is that I fight it first in the external world. Get alone with God, do battle before Him, and settle the matter once and for all.
In dealing with other people, our stance should always be to drive them toward making a decision of their will. That is how surrendering to God begins. Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.”
Has God brought you to a major turning point— a great crossroads in your life?
Think about it..
In Christ –
John
Soli Deo Gloria
Posts
John,
ReplyDeleteOnce again a post worthy of reading and contemplating. Thank you for all your efforts in helping us in the 'process'. I need to be examining my life more instead of drifting along. Your class has encouraged me by letting me know I am not alone and that it is indeed worth the struggle, besides all that it is what God calls me to do.
May He strengthen you daily so living His Way is as natural as breathing!
Andy