What we believe is an interesting subject. I don’t know if you’ve thought about it very much, but there is nothing about us that has any greater impact on our lives than the system of beliefs we have about ourselves and the world we live in. I say system of beliefs because we don’t believe just one thing, we have hundreds of beliefs perhaps thousands and no two of us have exactly the same set of beliefs. Our individual belief systems can draw us together or pull us apart. They can propel us forward or drag us down in whatever we do. For this reason, we must always be ready to examine our beliefs and be willing to make changes in them when we find evidence that what we believe is wrong.

While our beliefs do influence every aspect of our lives, there is no part of our existence which is affected any more by them than in religion. Have you considered how we, as individuals, form our religious beliefs? Looking at the state of religion around us, I would describe it like this. Its kinda like going to the religious supermarket. A huge store with literally thousands of religious beliefs on the shelves. As we roll our cart down the aisles, we get a little of this and a little of that. Oh! I like that a lot but that over there, I don’t like that at all. We go down the aisles till our cart is full and now we have all the religious beliefs we want and go merrily on our way. One thing is for sure, we sure have a lot to choose from in religion and most people exercise this privilege to suit one person, them self.

However, there are some truths about religion that indicate that the shopping mart approach to religion is all wrong. If the Bible is true and my foremost belief is that it is true Joh 17:17, then any religion based on something other than the Bible is not only useless but hinders the formation of beliefs based on truth Heb 1:1. Remember this. Any belief based upon a lie has no real benefit and can only harm us Joh 14:6. Another truth from the Bible is that God is the author and finisher of true religion Heb 12:2, all else is man made and therefore false religion Gal 1:8-9. False religion is vain having no value Matt 15:9. Another religious truth is that God’s religion, true religion, is a package deal Rev 22:18-19;Deu 4:2. We must accept it or reject it in its entirety, no picking and choosing at our discretion. If we reject any, we have rejected it all. If we go beyond what is allowed we again reject it all. True religion is a straight and narrow pathway, no detours and no byways Matt 7:14. It leads to only one place, heaven. All else leads away from heaven and you don’t want to go there.

Little else is as important as what we believe. If we are to grow and be all that we can be, we must be ready to examine our beliefs and modify them to conform to truth as it presents itself. In no other way is this as important as in religion.

Send comments or questions to the Clintwood Church of Christ, POB 746, Clintwood, Va. 24228 or email me at bryan.renita@gmail.com

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