BELIEVING WHAT WE BELIEVE

In the night I heard the phrase, ‘How much ‘believe’ is really in us as ‘believers?’ Or, what do we believe when we say we are believers? That could be a long and diverse answer I suppose.

If we believe in simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship/sustainability (known as the acronym SPICES) we are like most believing and unbelieving people of our time. Most folks would agree that this is a good way to live… and it is. But these are values and as Howard Brinton (1884-1973), author and professor points out, ‘these are values and things we decide on. Testimonies are products of the Inward light.’ We must believe something bigger than our own good ideas.

Moralism and being ‘nice and good’ can replace the power and purposes of the Holy Spirit. Christians are to have the above values but they must have them motivated from love and grace otherwise we may just become peace and political activists. The Gospel is redemptive and this includes good works but it also requires a Redeemer if we are to change the condition of our souls. Humanism and moralism is not a Savior.

“For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Jesus