The Belief That Saves

It has been said that a man's whole life and character is the outcome of his belief, and also that his belief has nothing whatever to do with his life. Both statements are true. The confusion and contradiction of these two statements are only apparent, and are quickly dispelled when it is remembered that there are two entirely distinct kinds of belief, namely, Head-belief and Heart-belief.

Some say that a man's whole life and character are shaped by his belief. Others say that his belief has nothing to do with his life. Both statements are true. They only seem confusing and contradictory. The confusion quickly disappears when we remember that there are two entirely distinct kinds of belief: Head-belief and Heart-belief.

Head, or intellectual belief, is not fundamental and causative, but is superficial and consequent, and that it has no power in the moulding of a man's character, the most superficial observer may easily see. Take, for instance, half a dozen men from any creed. They not only hold the same theological belief, but confess the same articles of faith in every particular, and yet their characters are vastly different. One will be just as noble as another is ignoble; one will be mild and gentle, another coarse and irascible; one will be honest, another dishonest; one will indulge certain habits which another will rigidly abjure, and so on, plainly indicating that theological belief is not an influential factor in a man's life.

Even a casual observer can easily see that intellectual belief is not fundamental or causative. It is superficial and a consequence of other things, and it has no power to shape a person's character. Take, for example, six men from any creed. They not only share the same theological beliefs, but also profess the same articles of faith in every detail. Yet their characters are vastly different. One may be as noble as another is dishonorable. One may be mild and gentle, another coarse and short-tempered. One may be honest, another dishonest. One may indulge in certain habits that another strictly rejects, and so on. This plainly shows that theological belief is not an influential factor in a person's life.

A man's theological belief is merely his intellectual opinion or view of the universe, God, the Bible, etc.; and behind and underneath this head-belief there lies, deeply rooted in his innermost being, the hidden, silent, secret belief of his heart, and it is this belief which moulds and makes his whole life. It is this which makes those six men who, whilst holding the same theology, are yet so vastly at variance in their deeds—they differ in the vital belief of the heart.

A man's theological belief is merely his intellectual opinion or view of the universe, God, the Bible, and so on. Behind and beneath this belief of the mind lies the hidden, silent, secret belief of his heart. It is deeply rooted in his innermost being, and it shapes and forms his whole life. This is why those six men, though they share the same theology, differ so greatly in their actions: they differ in the vital belief of the heart.

What, then, is this heart-belief?

What, then, is this heart-belief?

It is that which a man loves and clings to and fosters in his soul; for he thus loves and clings to and fosters certain things in his heart, because he believes in them, and believing in them and loving them, he practises them; thus is his life the effect of his belief, but it has no relation to the particular creed which comprises his intellectual belief. One man clings to impure and immoral things because he believes in them; another does not cling to them because he has ceased to believe in them. A man cannot cling to anything unless he believes in it; belief always precedes action, therefore a man's deeds and life are the fruits of his belief.

It is what a man loves, holds on to, and nurtures in his soul. He loves, holds on to, and nurtures certain things in his heart because he believes in them. Because he believes in and loves them, he puts them into practice. His life is therefore the result of his belief, but it has no connection to the particular creed he intellectually believes. One man holds on to impure and immoral things because he believes in them. Another does not hold on to them because he has stopped believing in them. A man cannot hold on to anything unless he believes in it. Belief always comes before action, so a man's deeds and life are the fruits of his belief.

The Priest and the Levite who passed by the injured and helpless man, held, no doubt, very strongly to the theological doctrines of their fathers—that was their intellectual belief,—but in their hearts they did not believe in mercy, and so lived and acted accordingly. The good Samaritan may or may not have had any theological beliefs, nor was it necessary that he should have; but in his heart he believed in mercy, and acted accordingly.

The Priest and the Levite passed by the injured, helpless man. No doubt they strongly held to their fathers’ theological doctrines. That was what they believed intellectually. But in their hearts, they did not believe in mercy, so they lived and acted accordingly. The good Samaritan may or may not have had theological beliefs, and he did not need to have them. But in his heart, he believed in mercy and acted accordingly.

Strictly speaking, there are only two beliefs which vitally affect the life, and they are, belief in good and belief in evil.

Strictly speaking, only two beliefs deeply affect our lives: belief in good and belief in evil.

He who believes in all those things that are good, will love them, and live in them; he who believes in those things that are impure and selfish, will love them, and cling to them. The tree is known by its fruits.

Anyone who believes in all that is good will love those things and live by them. Anyone who believes in impure and selfish things will love them and cling to them. A tree is known by its fruit.

A man's beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible are one thing; his life, as bound up in his actions, is another; therefore a man's theological belief is of no consequence; but the thoughts which he harbours, his attitude of mind towards others, and his actions, these, and these only, determine and demonstrate whether the belief of a man's heart is fixed in the false or the true.

A man's beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible are one thing. His life, as shown by his actions, is another. Therefore, a man's theological beliefs are of no importance. Only his thoughts, his attitude toward others, and his actions determine and show whether his heart is fixed on falsehood or truth.