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.