In this episode, we’re talking about whether or not you know what you believe and why that is important.
We’re not necessarily talking about your political, scientific, social, etc… beliefs (although these are definitely important). We’re talking about your theological beliefs. What do you believe about God, Scripture, Jesus, salvation, etc…? Hopefully, a solid theological foundation will transcend and shape your beliefs on other things.
The Dangers of False Teaching
It can be really easy to blindly follow or accept what others are teaching (Nathaniel knows this from experience), especially if you don’t know what you believe and what exactly they are teaching.
1 Timothy 6:3-10 gives us a picture of what false teachers look like and why they are dangerous. Unfortunately, some people do not teach what lines up with the teaching of Jesus and the rest of Scripture. This passage also warns that these false teachers will try and use “godliness” for their personal gain.
If you are a new believer, it is okay if you have found yourself in the position of listening to or following one of these false teachers, or even just unaware of what is/isn’t true- hope is not lost! But how do you grow out of this? The simple answer is: Consistently reading the Bible for yourself, surrounding yourself with believers who genuinely want to grow in their faith (not their material possessions), and listening to genuine, biblically based teaching (church, books, podcasts, etc…).
There are so many podcasts, Instagram accounts, and popular Christian books out there, so as believers, we have to be really discerning about what we are consuming. You have to know what you believe because oftentimes, these sources are not based on Scriptural truths.
Truth is Not Relative
One thing to clarify before we dive in- truth is not relative. Culture often misguidedly tells us to “speak your truth.” This does not mean that we cannot have different perspectives or cultures- these are valuable. Some topics have more of a gray area, but there are multiple things that just have one answer- one truth.
For example, on the issue of homelessness, there are varying beliefs on how to best address and serve this population. There could be multiple solutions for an issue and none of them are the only way to address it (although, there is likely one solution that is the wisest and most God-honoring).
When it comes to the Bible, however, it is black and white. Either Jesus is the Son of God or He isn’t. He either rose from the dead or He didn’t. You have to take a stance on these issues and there is a true belief.
Why is it important to know what you believe?
1. “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.”
This cliche holds true. If you don’t firmly know what you believe about something, you’re going to be much more susceptible to falling into false doctrines or believing false messages from the world.
Ephesians 4:11-14 shows us that the opposite of Christian maturity is being childish, being tossed around by false doctrines, and being vulnerable to the cunning of human deceitfulness. They don’t know what they believe so it is easy for them to fall into this trap. Most people using the Bible to spread a certain message sound as if they know what they are talking about. You need to test everything that you are hearing about the Bible against Scripture itself.
Think about the Temptation of Jesus- Satan tempted Jesus by using Scripture out of context. But Jesus fought back and resisted temptation by using Scripture in its proper context. The natural response to false teaching can be intimidation and fear- how can we be discerning of these things? We grow in discernment! As we continue to read and dwell in Scripture, the Lord is faithful to grow us in our knowledge of His Word and what is true.
2. If you don’t fully know what you believe, it is easier to justify your own desires and what you want to be true.
We see this so often in cultural Christianity. People come to God’s Word wanting it to say or mean something specific, so they twist Scripture to justify what they already believe/want.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 says that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” You can find Scripture and take it out of context to support your beliefs, and you can find teachers who will teach that as well. But you must go to Scripture to find out what God says is truth. You have to look at the Bible for yourself- don’t take others’ word for it.
3. When you know what you believe, you are better able to withstand hardship.
Matthew 7:24-27 paints a picture for us of those who know what they believe and stand firm on it. They are able to stand strong when storms and hardships come because their foundation is the rock of Scripture. The best example of this kind of person in Scripture is Job. He lost everything, but he knew and deeply trusted God and His character and His Word.
Times of stress and hardship are when we default to our beliefs. They press out and reveal what we truly believe.
4. When you know what you believe, you are better able to help others understand the truth.
Matthew 5:14-16 tells us this! We can’t help others understand what we don’t understand or know ourselves. It is our responsibility as believers to be well-equipped with the truths of Scripture if we desire to counsel others, be good friends or family members, and invest in our relationships.
Side note: Your theological beliefs should always supersede your political beliefs.
Election season is here and the political rhetoric can be wild. As Christians, we should be involved in politics- it is good to be involved in society and our culture. Our views on Scripture should be what informs our beliefs and political choices. Our identity is primarily in Christ, not our voter registration. Red or Blue should not determine our stance on political issues- Scripture should. Hot take: there are issues that both parties take a more Scriptural stance on compared to the other. Neither party is “the Christian party.”
What theological issues are we talking about?
There are 3 types of theological issues:
- Primary issues (issues of salvation)
- Secondary issues (issues of fellowship and how the church should gather)
- Tertiary issues (issues of discussion, but should not affect fellowship)
1. Primary Issues
These issues ask questions about how someone is saved, if there are multiple paths to salvation or if there is only one way, the relationship between works/baptism and salvation, etc… Other primary issues are concerned with who Jesus is, what God’s Word is, To answer these questions, you have to know what the Bible says, not just what you grew up hearing/believing. You need to know what you believe about these issues, and why you believe them.
2. Secondary Issues
These are issues of fellowship and are why different denominations exist (for good reason). If you hold differently to these beliefs, it doesn’t mean that someone isn’t saved, but you likely are in different denominations because you don’t align on the same issues.
Some topics that fall under this category are:
- Baptism (Infant vs. Believer’s Baptism; Immersion vs. Sprinkling)
- Women’s Role in the Church/Ministry
- Spiritual Gifts (Continuationism vs. Cessationism)
- Communion (is it representational or transubstantiation?)
3. Tertiary Issues
These are issues of discussion that you can have healthy conversations about. There are likely people in your church that you align with on primary and secondary issues, but you have differing beliefs on tertiary issues. These are beliefs to hold openly. They don’t necessarily determine what church you attend. Some examples of these issues are:
- Eschatology and the Rapture
- Methods of Worship (Regulative vs. Normative Principles)
- Communion (full meal or just bread and cup; weekly vs. monthly, members meetings or during church service
To sum it all up…
You need to know what you believe about all of these issues and why. It will take time to formulate these beliefs. It is a lifelong process to solidify these beliefs. Recognize that even on the primary and secondary issues, you will be learning and growing and solidifying these beliefs throughout the rest of your life. Reading Scripture and hearing sound teaching will help you grow in discernment.
One Degree Shift
Take one belief that you’ve had for your entire life or your entire Christian walk (something you’ve never questioned) and look into it for yourself. Dig into Scripture to find answers. Here are some resources that will help point you back to Scripture as you dive into these beliefs.
- Got Questions
- Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
- 10 Bible Study Resources to Take You Deeper
Want to Stay a Little Longer?
- Download this guide to getting started or going deeper in reading your Bible!
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