In reading & studying Philemon (a book of the New Testament portion of the Bible), I came across this portion of text from a site actually dealing with the issue of faith. I think it expresses so clearly what faith truly is and that’s why I have put it on my blog. The link to the page is at the end of the quote.
“You see, faith demands action. I have often said "Theology is everything." What I mean by that is, in the final analysis, what you really believe will control what you actually do. People don't do things which kill them--whether so obvious things as smoking, or those sins which eat away at the soul and destroy us from the inside--we don't do things which kill us because we want to die. We do them because, whatever we may say we believe, we don't really believe that they are dangerous. The person who has an affair, gets an abortion, steals from the company, deceives a friend, cheats on taxes, or murders thirty-seven people in a twelve-state shooting spree doesn't really believe that it's wrong when he does it--or maybe not ever. Believing that there are negative consequences to our actions is the ultimate deterrent to them. Believing that there are positive consequences to our actions is the ultimate incentive. What we do directly springs from what we truly believe. That's why you are known by your works: because, although you can plaster on a veneer of goodness as easily as you can fake a cold heart, ultimately you will act by what you think. That is why faith requires content; that is why you are "transformed by the renewing of your mind". That is why repentance--metanoia in the Greek--means "to change your knowledge". Once you understood the world one way. Now you must learn to understand all things as they really are, for if you truly understand the way everything is, and if you truly believe that things are as God says they are, then you will always do the right thing.”
http://www.mjyoung.net/bible/boiler.htm
“You see, faith demands action. I have often said "Theology is everything." What I mean by that is, in the final analysis, what you really believe will control what you actually do. People don't do things which kill them--whether so obvious things as smoking, or those sins which eat away at the soul and destroy us from the inside--we don't do things which kill us because we want to die. We do them because, whatever we may say we believe, we don't really believe that they are dangerous. The person who has an affair, gets an abortion, steals from the company, deceives a friend, cheats on taxes, or murders thirty-seven people in a twelve-state shooting spree doesn't really believe that it's wrong when he does it--or maybe not ever. Believing that there are negative consequences to our actions is the ultimate deterrent to them. Believing that there are positive consequences to our actions is the ultimate incentive. What we do directly springs from what we truly believe. That's why you are known by your works: because, although you can plaster on a veneer of goodness as easily as you can fake a cold heart, ultimately you will act by what you think. That is why faith requires content; that is why you are "transformed by the renewing of your mind". That is why repentance--metanoia in the Greek--means "to change your knowledge". Once you understood the world one way. Now you must learn to understand all things as they really are, for if you truly understand the way everything is, and if you truly believe that things are as God says they are, then you will always do the right thing.”
http://www.mjyoung.net/bible/boiler.htm
Posts
