All of us, whether we are aware of it or not, have a way of looking at the world around us and the events that take place, and interpreting it according to our experiences, beliefs, and individual biases. Our worldview shapes the opinions that we form and determine what, if any, action we think is appropriate in any given situation.
For those who would categorize themselves within a particular set of beliefs, whether it is a religious system such as Christianity or Hinduism, an economic system such as Capitalism or Marxism, or some other framework, the expectation is that those frameworks would then provide the primary lens for that worldview. The concept is straightforward – what we believe will shape our perception and behavior. Therefore, the presumption is that if we have chosen to identify with a particular set of beliefs, we will both desire and work towards manifesting the end goal of that particular belief system.
Where things get a bit sideways is when we say we believe in a particular framework, and want to be faithful to that framework, and yet our behavior is at odds with that system. Sometimes, the issue is that we haven’t yet fully understood what the teachings of a particular framework call for. However, there are times when we simply disagree with something within that framework, or at least haven’t yet fully embraced it, so our behavior reveals what we really believe.
In the realm of Christianity, this is perhaps most clearly seen during times of personal persecution or tragedy. Jesus told his followers to expect persecution, and he then modeled how to handle it by enduring the horrors of Good Friday when he was executed on the cross, ultimately asking God the Father to forgive those who didn’t fully understand what they were doing by participating in his crucifixion. Yet without that crucifixion, we would not have salvation. Or consider the Jewish patriarch Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Yet without that act of cruelty and betrayal, Joseph would not have wound up in a position of influence that ultimately ensured food for his family during a dramatic seven-year famine. Later, Joseph would tell his brothers that while they had intended that act for evil, God had intended it for good.
The Apostle Paul would sum up this bedrock principle of Christianity by declaring “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). From this – the acknowledgment that the all-powerful, all-knowing God is in complete control even when we don’t understand it or particularly like it – our subsequent actions reveal whether we really trust God more than we trust our own selves. Far too many of us, instead of looking at these painful situations as opportunities to glorify God, prefer to do whatever we possibly can to get out of the very place that God orchestrated for us to be. Instead of embracing the notion that God could be glorified in our suffering, we look for any other path that will spare us the hardship.
Ultimately, our actions do reveal what we truly believe. Unfortunately, they may reveal that we believe something that is contrary to what we claim to believe. If that is the case, the honorable thing to do is to either admit that we don’t really believe what we have previously held to, or modify our thinking and behavior so that it conforms with our declared belief framework. Either way, an opportunity is presented for personal growth, and hopefully it will lead you closer to the Lord.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron