Beliefs To Die For

We all have things that we believe in: who God is; how to raise our children; how to save the earth; what translation of the Bible to read. Some of these we hold closer to our heart than others. Some beliefs even become the fabric of who we are. There are beliefs we would even die for. Would you die for your beliefs? Think about that answer. Which ones would you die for? Would your kill for your beliefs? Think you know the answer to that one? Look deeper. Don’t be so sure.

We all have things that we believe in: who God is; how to raise our children; how to save the earth; what translation of the Bible to read. Some of these we hold closer to our heart than others. Some beliefs even become the fabric of who we are. There are beliefs we would even die for. Would you die for your beliefs? Think about that answer. Which ones would you die for? Would your kill for your beliefs? Think you know the answer to that one? Look deeper. Don’t be so sure.

“You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent  to fiery hell.” Matthew 5:21-22

Yeah, we all know this passage. What’s in our heart is just as true as what we do. Actions may speak louder than words, but to a God that knows us deeply, the heart speaks the loudest of all.

Let’s be honest, we sometimes hate those that are different. Those people who openly insult the way we raise our children. Those people who disagree with our efforts (whether extreme or listless in their eyes) to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Heated arguments have started over less.

We often think it’s no big deal. We’re just standing up for our passions and beliefs. God agrees with us on this issue. We’re sure of that. Ah, but as Anne Lamott said, “You can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”

Whether or not God agrees with us on the issue isn’t really the problem. (Besides, it’s hard to verify that He really does agree with us on most issues, isn’t it?) The real problem is that hate means kill in Jesus’ eyes. And, I don’t care what that old “sticks and stones” thing has to say about it, I’ve been wounded deeply by words, haven’t you? That being said, I’ve wounded others too.

So, whether we are arguing with those in the church (yes, we do tear each other down), our families, or those who are not believers, we cannot be full of hatred. We must be more passionate about the person than the issue at hand. We must remove the murder in our heart. We must be careful, O Christian, to find love. You can die for your beliefs, just don’t require another to die for them as well.