When Our Actions Don't Match Our Beliefs

Today, we'll be looking at the idea of our attitudes and actions matching what we believe—that is, our lives matching our professed doctrines. The helpful terminology I've heard in the past on this subject utilizes these terms: formal theology and functional theology. (I'm indebted to a few seminary professors at Denver Seminary for exposing me to this language and these categories!) Formal theology is what we believe and functional theology is what we do.

(I explore this idea further in my own life in my previous article titled, "A Mismatch Between My Life & Doctrine.")

Here are some key Scriptures:

• [1Ti 4:15-16 ESV] – 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

  • (Notice here that he says to keep a watch on both your life and doctrine.)

• [Mat 28:19-20 ESV] – 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

  • (Notice here he doesn't merely say to teach, but he says to teach them to observe or obey. Also, many think of the Great Commission and equate it to evangelism and to numbers of conversions. Clearly, it’s more than that. There is a component of teaching all of the Scriptures and learning to obey them as well.)

• [Jas 1:22 ESV] – 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

  • (Notice here that James emphasizes being both doers and hearers of the word. Frighteningly, he also says that if one is a hearer only then that person is self-deceived.)

What We Believe

This is what we subscribe to and what we say that we believe. It's helpful to think about this with theological categories: primary doctrines, secondary doctrines, and tertiary doctrines. We will subscribe to the same primary doctrines as other Christians. However, we will also believe various secondary doctrines that may distinguish us from other Christians and affect the way church is practiced (these will typically match your church and others in your church). Moreover, frequently we will also hold opinions on tertiary doctrines that may further distinguish us from those in our church communities (and that is okay since often they do not affect the way church is practiced).

(For more on this please refer to my article titled, "Theological Triage: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Doctrines.")

Here are some examples of how we express our beliefs:

• Creeds

• Confessions

• Catechisms

• How you interpret Scripture

• Statements of Faith

• Theological beliefs

What We Do

This is how we actually live with our attitudes, words, and actions. When we act in ways that don't match what we believe, are we unsaying functionally what we're saying formally? In other words, do we really believe it if our actions undermine it?

At times we find ourselves content with learning Scripture and theology without examining our lives (though it is unbiblical!). Conversely, other times we focus much more on how we live, but we do not examine our theological beliefs which undergird and guide our lives (though this is also unbiblical!). No one will perfectly embody a match between one's doctrine and life. Jesus Christ alone embodies this perfectly. His life wonderfully and precisely matches his doctrine. What a great thought! Nevertheless, we should strive to live holy lives. In fact, Scripture tells us to strive "for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14 ESV). Yikes! Thus, we should strive to obey and live in line with what we see in the Scriptures.

Application

You might notice this mismatch between actions and doctrines in a couple of ways: we frequently have mismatches organizationally (in our church communities) and personally (in our families, workplaces, relationships, and lives). Here are just a few examples:

• We say we believe in God's sovereignty and providence, but we are anxious about our lives and future.

• We say we love God more than anything else, but we value and idolize various people and things.

• We say we love our neighbors, but we love ourselves more.

• We say that we believe rest is biblical and important, but we run ourselves ragged and don't plan time for it.

• We say that we value Scripture, but we don't study it, think about it deeply, and preach it.

• We say that we believe we should pray, but functionally we fill our discretionary time with many other things first.

• We say that we value justification by faith alone, but we often live our lives anxiously seeking to gain God's approval with our works. (Sometimes we even create church environments that are run based on approval, fear, shame, and works-righteousness rather than the gospel.)

Again, no one will perfectly live this out (thank God for his wonderful grace!). I am deeply grateful for the doctrine of justification by faith alone! (If you are worried about your standing before God, then explore that doctrine.)

This concept of our doctrines matching our lives is clearly biblical and it gives an excellent way to make sure we're living out what we truly believe. (If you find that there is mismatch, then it may be good to explore the doctrines of sanctification and glorification, and ask the Lord for the strength to live in greater obedience to him.)