Why It Really Matters What We Believe

We begin our journey by looking at why it really matters what we believe. The Bible gives us three strong reasons why it’s important what you believe.  In this new series, we are going to be looking at (1) WHAT we believe; (2) WHY we believe what we believe; and why it MATTERS. We will be taking a meaningful journey through the basic beliefs of the Christian faith that define WHO we are; HOW we live; and WHERE we are going.

First of all, we need to understand that everyone has some kind of a belief system. Every one has a view of how life should be lived in this world. That’s called a "worldview." Your worldview is the beliefs that you build your life on. Here’s how important it is to know what you believe: your beliefs affects how you see YOUR life; how you see OTHER people; and how you see GOD.

There are three main worldview philosophies that people build their life on.

Materialism is the desire to always acquire more. Materialism is never content, and rarely thankful, with what you have. Materialism confuses value with valuables. It confuses net-worth with self-worth. Some of the saddest people on the planet happen to also be some of the richest people. More things – as nice as they can be – can never guarantee more happiness.

We live in a culture that continually sends the message that life is all about YOU. The ads and commercials cater to the view, "Life is all about me." The "Me-first" mentality comes from individualism. The problem with "Individualism" (the "me-first" lifestyle), is that it is the opposite of how Jesus lived and how He said we are supposed to live. We are to be "others" minded – not me-minded. Significance in life doesn’t come from serving self. Significance in life comes from being a part of serving others. Self-centeredness may bring you more status, more salary, and more society success, but at the end of the day it will leave you empty for you were created for something more than me-first living.

3. "I want to do what God wants me to do." - Life is about purpose -- finding and fulfilling what God has for my life.

If you want to know what life is really all about – you start with God. God has a purpose for your existence. You will be most fulfilled in life when you are fulfilling God’s purposes for your life. A person’s life is always being shaped by something else or someone else. You are either: driven by possessions (I want to get more things); driven by pleasure (me-first); or driven by a desire to find and fulfill God’s purposes for your life. Whatever I believe shapes my life.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

What I believe determines how I will act. Everything we do in life has a belief behind it. The problem with our beliefs is this: My beliefs determine my behavior, even when my belief is wrong. There is no shortage of people making bad decisions that mess up their life. Why do they do this? Because when your belief is wrong so will be your behavior. That’s why we need to make sure about what source is determines what I believe?

This secular world system is always teaching something – and often, it is teaching something false. False believes like:

(1) All of your problems are somebody else’s fault.

(2) This world owes you happiness and you are entitled to get it anyway you can.

(3) There is never really any good reason to feel guilty about something you did.

When I am embracing right beliefs it will benefit my life; but if I am embracing false beliefs it will bring me pain and problems.

Myths can make our life miserable. Myths, that is, false beliefs, can mess us up. For instance, if you believe God is some kind of divine drill sergeant who only watches your life to wait for you to make a mistake – that kind of false belief about God can cause you all kinds of unnecessary pain and problems in life. In this series, we will look at what God is really like. That will affirm right beliefs about God and correct any wrong beliefs that may be hurting us.

Fact #4 - The only source of trustworthy truth is God.

Here is the foundational questions you need to ask yourself:

(1) What is going to be the guide for my life?

(2) What is going to be the basis for my beliefs and behavior?

(3) What is going to be the final authority for my life?

(4) What is going to be my north star, my compass, my standard for what I do and don’t do in life?

(5) What am I going to base my life on?

When it comes down to it, there are only two options: what the world says or what the word of God says. I will give you a clue as to which option is best. One option keeps changing what it says is right and wrong. The other option, the word of God, never changes and is always reliable.

Doing what God says is not always easy nor is it always popular, but it is always right. Because this is true, no matter what is going on in my life, I can know that God is my guide. Knowing this, gives me an inner peace and happiness that this world can’t give. The Bible declares again and again that blessed is the person who walks in the ways of God. Blessed means happy! Building my life on the foundation of God’s truth will bring me a truly happy life.

The world -- including people in your world – is looking for the answer to what life is really all about. People will believe anything (desperation) or nothing (skepticism). But deep down, everyone is searching for something that can make sense as to why we are here. Followers of Jesus have the answer to what the world is searching for.

There are six main approaches for dealing with the problems in our world and how to change it.

1. The Political approach – Change what people do. This approach suggests we can change the world if we change more legislation, pass more laws, and create more policies. If you change what people can do or can’t do it will ultimately change them. The problem is – laws can change what people do on the outside, but they don’t change people on the inside.

2. The Educational approach – Change what people know. This approach suggests that most of the problems in the world are the result of a lack of knowledge. If everyone could just get a good education, that would help them for the rest of their lives and make this world a better place. A good education is very helpful -- but education is not enough. There are some very intelligent people who make very bad and hurtful decisions in life.

3. The Financial approach – Change what people have. This approach suggests that if we help people have more, it would solve more of our world’s problems. Finances are a real problem in our world especially right now. And helping people to learn planned spending versus impulsive buying would greatly relieve the stress and provide a stronger future in most homes. But financial issues are still a surface issue. The financial approach can help people, but it still won’t deal with the root problem.

4. The Psychological approach – Change how people feel.  This approach suggests that what we really need to do is help people deal with their past problems; deal with their relationships issues; deal with their self-esteem; and say "I’m okay – You’re okay." But there needs to be more than a change of the mind – there has to a change of the heart.

5. The Sociological approach – Change how people relate. This approach suggests that if we could just change the social structures of society most of the world’s problems would be resolved. Thankfully, in many ways, we have learned how to get along better with one another regardless of the color of our skin or our financial status. But we would also have to be honest enough to say that although progress has been made – we still live in a world where hatred, prejudice, and even the desire for world domination are still very real. There is a deeper issue than just having a right kind of social structure.

6. The Faith (Biblical) approach – Change people’s hearts. With all the problems in our world, the heart of each problem is a problem of the heart. That is what God specializes in. He can change a hateful person into a loving person. He can change a prejudice person into a color-blind person. He can change a self-centered person into an unselfish person. No law, no class, no seminar, no conference, no structure, can do that – only God can do that! It starts in the heart. The fact is only changed hearts can change the world. With all the problems in our world, the heart of each problem is a problem of the heart.

This is best news ever – God loves you. He will forgive you of your sins. He wants to be there for you each step in life. And after this life, He wants you to live with Him in Heaven forever. But how do people hear about this good news? The Bible says in Romans 10:13-14: For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

God expects me to know what I believe and why, so I can share with others "What God did for me, He can do for you."