Dancing to Doctrine: Belief & Action
“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”—James 2:19
Doctrine centers around two things: belief and action. While doctrine addresses the content of belief, it also equally addresses action. We may say we believe something, but if our behavior doesn’t match our belief, then it means nothing. We can say that we are Christians, attend church on occasion, even be a church member or serve in some official capacity at a church, but that doesn’t make one a Christian. Only one thing can make one a Christian—trust in Christ. Trust, though, must be understood as comprehensive and active, not compartmentalized and static.
Allow me to explain. Imagine being at O’Hare airport in Chicago and you’re ready to fly to New York. You may have a ticket, but that doesn’t make you a passenger. It’s not until you actually get on the plane that you’re a passenger. Some think that they are passengers because they have a ticket and luggage, are in the airport, and have passed through security and are at the gate. But none of those things actually makes them a passenger. It’s not until they step on board the plane and it taxis down the runway that you are a passenger.
Christianity is the same way. Many say they are Christians, but they haven’t got on the plane. They may say all of the right things, look like Christians, sound like Christians, have a ticket that says they are good church members, but none of those things saves them. The only thing that saves them is complete trust in Christ. They have to "get on the plane" of Christ to truly be a Christian. And once you get on board, God begins to transform you. He begins moving you away from the life you knew, and taking you to the place He wants you to go. He is the pilot, we are along for the ride.
Doctrine has never simply been about belief, but belief married to action. In James 2:19, James writes about the demons. Demons believe in God and know that the triune God is one, but their life doesn’t reflect that belief; on the contrary, they shudder at God. For them, they have right doctrine, but not right action.
What about us? Do we believe? Does out life match our belief? Does our walk match our talk? Belief in God is transformational. God invites us to get on board so that He can take us to the places He has prepared for us so that we might experience the joy of doing what we have been made for—to know and glorify Him. Amen.
Doctrine centers around two things: belief and action. While doctrine addresses the content of belief, it also equally addresses action. We may say we believe something, but if our behavior doesn’t match our belief, then it means nothing. We can say that we are Christians, attend church on occasion, even be a church member or serve in some official capacity at a church, but that doesn’t make one a Christian. Only one thing can make one a Christian—trust in Christ. Trust, though, must be understood as comprehensive and active, not compartmentalized and static.
Allow me to explain. Imagine being at O’Hare airport in Chicago and you’re ready to fly to New York. You may have a ticket, but that doesn’t make you a passenger. It’s not until you actually get on the plane that you’re a passenger. Some think that they are passengers because they have a ticket and luggage, are in the airport, and have passed through security and are at the gate. But none of those things actually makes them a passenger. It’s not until they step on board the plane and it taxis down the runway that you are a passenger.
Christianity is the same way. Many say they are Christians, but they haven’t got on the plane. They may say all of the right things, look like Christians, sound like Christians, have a ticket that says they are good church members, but none of those things saves them. The only thing that saves them is complete trust in Christ. They have to "get on the plane" of Christ to truly be a Christian. And once you get on board, God begins to transform you. He begins moving you away from the life you knew, and taking you to the place He wants you to go. He is the pilot, we are along for the ride.
Doctrine has never simply been about belief, but belief married to action. In James 2:19, James writes about the demons. Demons believe in God and know that the triune God is one, but their life doesn’t reflect that belief; on the contrary, they shudder at God. For them, they have right doctrine, but not right action.
What about us? Do we believe? Does out life match our belief? Does our walk match our talk? Belief in God is transformational. God invites us to get on board so that He can take us to the places He has prepared for us so that we might experience the joy of doing what we have been made for—to know and glorify Him. Amen.
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