What, in my estimation, is always linked to Who – but in considering ‘just’ the ‘what’ – this is important (as it will reflect on the who, or at least my definition of who). Example: when I was a young person, I may have been about the age of confirmation, I asked the minister what it was, precisely, that our church (denomination) believed. Though I believe he was merely trying to ignore, his response was that other than believing in the trinity, we could pretty much believe whatever we wanted. I don’t think so. That’s equivalent to …. if you don’t stand for something you will fall for everything. Or, my interpretation: you will never know what you think without a willingness to be a public witness. Or am I missing something.
I suspect that the minister’s dismissive comment was a ‘good’ response for me in that it made me more aware of what it is I do and don’t believe. It also gave me a more ‘discerning’ mindset to make certain I always knew ‘why’ I believed as I do. Too often our ‘opinions’ are based in the statements from others that seem to make sense or are spoken by those we trust. My point though is that WE need to know the why foundation to what and who we believe. But this takes works which is why so many people decide on following others’ thinking because it’s easier.
One point is that whatever and whoever we believe, our understanding needs testing because what we think we know, based on simple acceptance of others’ thoughts, may not be what they think or how they define the concepts. We need to know and understand all the ‘particulars’ to a belief. The why’s refine and expand understanding, accepting, and acting on the belief. Perhaps ‘acting on’ is the primary test of the what since we are making a stand by our actions.
Too often we dismiss as unimportant or ‘too much work’ the testing and discovering believing’s ‘what’. But how can we act unless we understand? And how can we understand unless we test? And how can we test unless we discover all that the ‘what’ is? Life is too important to be casual about it. Not stressing, but acting on understanding promotes our living from strength and assurance. And when you have to provide an accounting of yourself – you know.
