Welll... I think belief is the basis of all action... The dominating beliefs in a person's heart or mind will provide the foundation for their life. Every man acts, thinks, and lives in exact accordance with the beliefs that are rooted in his innermost being/heart/mind/soul (whichever you prefer)... But there are different kinds of action (voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary). It seems easy to separate belief and action (maybe easier to live life with the knowledge of what is right but fail to carry it out). Choice may be a better test of character than actions are. I believe we are called to lead a life where belief reciprocates action with the two being inseparable! We're reading Aristotle's ethics in Western Civ (which I love) and we've kind of touched on this subject! James 2:20--You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. Ahh this is long! It probably doesn't make sense but I just thought I'd throw my thoughts out there! Praying for you! --Jenny
Welll... I think belief is the basis of all action... The dominating beliefs in a person's heart or mind will provide the foundation for their life. Every man acts, thinks, and lives in exact accordance with the beliefs that are rooted in his innermost being/heart/mind/soul (whichever you prefer)... But there are different kinds of action (voluntary, non-voluntary, or involuntary).
ReplyDeleteIt seems easy to separate belief and action (maybe easier to live life with the knowledge of what is right but fail to carry it out). Choice may be a better test of character than actions are. I believe we are called to lead a life where belief reciprocates action with the two being inseparable! We're reading Aristotle's ethics in Western Civ (which I love) and we've kind of touched on this subject!
James 2:20--You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
Ahh this is long! It probably doesn't make sense but I just thought I'd throw my thoughts out there!
Praying for you!
--Jenny