I've been thinking about how the meaning of words often change with time. Cool, hot, bad, super, dynamite, wicked, groovy (anyone remember groovy?) - those words are the kind that change a lot and we expect that. If you're an adult then you're not supposed to understand teenagers. And if you're a teenager then you must never get caught sounding like an adult. That's pretty basic. We know that.
The problem arises when words that "are not supposed to change meaning" do. Words like Faith, Believe, Love.
Love is way too complex for me to deal with right now, and faith is another really deep word. Let's try "believe" - that seems simple enough. I believe this and you believe that and they believe whatever... That should be pretty clear what we mean. But in reality it isn't. You just believe it's clear - ha!
The problem is that often in today's world the word "believe" means something like: "I consider that it may be true, and most likely it is, at least as far as I understand the various facts and proofs that I have available. (but I think I could be wrong... maybe...)" - And for some it's more like: "I heard it on the news and everyone else believes it, so it must be true." ah - yeah - hmmm.
But believing should really run along the lines of "Knowing" - of being positive and basing your life and actions on the "fact" of what you believe. You may be wrong, but as far as you are concerned, you "know the facts" and you accept the belief as not requiring proof.
Ouch! Did I just say that believing could involve not requiring proof! That's unheard of in this scientific age. Everything has to be proven true or else it's a lie! (Except, of course, evolution - that's absolutely impossible to prove true and yet it's taught as a fact - a very strange situation...) Only children would ever believe without evidence!
Well - that's my point. Children believe. Adults often just consider the possibility of the veracity of some doctrine. Big difference.
Now don't get me wrong. Evidence and facts have real value. In fact, it's human nature to accept as true the first side of any argument that one learns and then defend it against all odds and evidence to the contrary. That can have disastrous results like believing that the world is flat or that low-fat food is healthy and dietetic even if it's loaded with sugars and preservatives. So there is a time to consider the evidence. Just be sure it's real evidence and not some contrived facts and figures. And that it's enough evidence to support or maybe counter what you believe.
Actually, the most important thing is to find the evidence of what you do believe. Is there any? You should be able to find some. If not, then maybe it's time to consider the alternatives.
Well all that to say that believing is knowing. It's not just a consideration of the facts or even just hoping something's true. That's the point - don't say you believe if you just "think" it's true. Say you believe if you "know" it's true. Children believe.
Now why is that important to distinguish between considering the truth and believing the truth? Well if you just consider something true it will never really change you! You will always have some part of your mind and heart in reserve, just in case you were wrong. You need to believe to be changed by the truth! To truly know. Then you start living your life based on that knowledge.
So search for the truth and study it until you truly believe it as unquestionable fact. The truth will then set you free from all the other alternatives.
The Apostle Paul once wrote to a young Christian named Timothy and told him, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
And Jesus, Himself, said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." That's a promise.
