A sweet friend reminded me that we Christians are actually just, "believers." So what do believers do?
They believe. That simple. Believers, believe.
So what do we believe in? Lots and lots of impossible things! Philippians 4:8 gives us a lovely rundown, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
"Goodness " is such an inadequate word, but that's what we insist on believing in, goodness.
But of course nothing is ever simple! Believing is really hard, even painful because often you have to face a lot of evidence to the contrary right in your face, and just go right on believing anyway. I believe all sorts of creeds and statements of faith and assorted theologies, but do I believe that the church shall stand and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it? Uhh, welp, sometimes, at least on the days I don't read about some corruption, injustice, or scandal. It's especially challenging for me to believe when Christians don't act like Christians. And by that I don't mean they fail to levitate 3 feet off the floor, I mean getting yourself arrested for child sexual abuse, abusing your wife, advocating violence, or deliberately bilking the flock. It's hard to believe in the church when parts of it actually look just like he gates of hell themselves.
I am probably one of the most faithless believers. Fickle, I tell ya. Some days I believe in so little it is hard to even get out of bed. Wally, another good blogging friend, once said something akin to, "Jesus didn't just get out of bed, one day He got up and walked right out of a tomb!" I like remembering that, it makes me smile.
Somebody smart recently mentioned that our intention, our faith, our belief itself, might be even more important than the outcome. I had to really think about that one, but I think I agree. There is a popular saying, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions," designed perhaps to remind us of empty promises and words with no action behind them. I would change it however and suggest that, the road to hell is paved with no intention at all.
I'm a big fan of, "fake it till you make it." A sweet pastor friend of mine doesn't like that statement, but today in the grocery store I thanked a clerk a for being so efficient and he deadpanned, "yes, it is my intention to project a helpful and friendly demeanor of perpetual efficiency at all times." I just laughed! It was an absolutely brilliant quip. If you've ever worked in customer service with the general public, you will understand the struggle.
Our intentions really matter. He wasn't feeling it, he sure wasn't believing it, but he was doing it and doing it well because that was his intention.
"Evil exists when good men do nothing." That's the default in our world. If you want to see some goodness you have to reach out for it. You have to "intend" for it. If you do not "get up and walk" as Jesus once said, than the default is that you will continue to lay on the ground.
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