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I read this today in The Word Became Flesh by E. Stanley Jones:
I once talked to General Smuts, premier of South Africa and the author of “Holism.” He called my attention to something I’ve never forgotten. He said the word “belief” is literally “by-lief” or “by life.” Your belief is your life. And your life is your belief. You believe in a thing enough to act on it, to live it. So you are what you believe, and you believe what you are. Your deed is your creed. And your creed is your deed.” (48)
I wonder how it would change our practice as Christians if we agreed that our beliefs are believed, not by what we say – but by what we do.
Kevin M. Watson 
I believe the quote gets at what Wesley would say… “faith working itself by love”, right? I also preach that faith is not about knowing it mentally (mere assent) but believing it in your heart, and what we believe in our heart is ultimately what determines how we live by our actions. I fear we have too many folks in the pews who have mental assent but ultimately believe something different in their hearts, for various reasons.
If you’ve read Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, he writes something like, “What I believe isn’t what I say I believe. What I believe is what I do.” Who says the “post-moderns” are heretics?
To come at things from the other side:
Wesley discovered that actions can change the heart. Maybe I should say rediscovered as feeding the poor, defending the defenseless, and the like seemed to be commanded in order to grow a love for our neighbors. I am quite sure God does not “need” us to take care of his children. I believe he wants us to take care of his children in order for each of us to grow more like Christ.
That said, how might we use actions to grow right hearts in addition to or in spite of what we have in our heads??
Paul talks about “faith working” and he spoke of “the work of faith” in Thessalonica. The whole “faith alone” thing created confusion being contradictory to James. Repentance and Baptism are necessary acts of Biblical faith.
Great question, Bart! I find it to be true when nominally or minimally committed people serve in mission for the first time, especially on a mission trip, and come back all fired up with the love of God “shed abroad in their hearts”.
All – Great discussion! I was at a child birthing preparation class all day Saturday. Sorry I wasn’t around to participate more, but I appreciate you all contributing.
Love the Jones quote. What a great way to put it on ground level! Dr. Jones contemporary, Loran W. Helm, says in his book, “A Voice in the Wilderness” that “We have been trying to do what God wants without doing what He says.”
Yes, “As many as are led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God.” So it is that to be led we must follow…or actually do His will. Cool!