Believer Defined

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Craig Groschel has said, we are able to be bold with that which we believe deeply. As I look at the what has become the anemic church, I am burdened by what theologians refer to as "easy believism." This concept was first introduced by a man who meant what he said, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He demonstrated that belief with his obedience even in the face of assured persecution. While safely on the shores of the United States, after escaping the Nazi regime, he was clearly told by God to go back to Nazi Germany to stand up for the Jews. He obeyed. He was executed. He obedience still impacts lives. The New York Times bestselling author: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, Eric Metaxas's video below tells Bonhoeffer's story better than I can.

It is nothing for us to dismiss obedience as an emotional response to a perceived feeling. It might even be thought of a guilt response to a persuasive speech. But I have to ask, what if the desire to do right is not any of those things, but something that is only able to manifest itself this way in what is our finite, puny human minds. I believe the desire to do right is only given to us as a gift from our holy and righteous God. Think about it, He could have simply let us wander about hoping that we could somehow know what was right to do on our own. But our God has not left us as orphans (See John 14:18).

• He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13 NKJV)

• He has given us a book that makes it clear what His will is for our lives.

If you love Me, you will keep My commands. (John 14:15 HCSB)

• He even gave us a conscience that drives us toward His standards and away from that which goes against His ways

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. Their consciences confirm this. Their competing thoughts will either accuse or excuse them. Romans 2:15 HCSB)

Obeying should be an easy proposition for us, but instead, it seems to go against our nature. Why? We don't want to be told what to do. Somehow, we have excused rebellion as a personality trait or a political stand. But it is so much more than that when we are dealing with God. God shows us how He wants us live and the only response we should have is, "Yes, Lord."

We cannot choose obedience when we want, nor when we get emotional, nor when everything is going smoothly. We choose obedience because our Master, Jesus, has spoken to us, and we obey. That is the life of a true believer. Believers live boldly when they believe deeply.

Peter and John understood that. We have recorded for us how they responded to God when He gave them instructions. We see them demonstrate openly what they believed deeply:

But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, "Go and stand in the temple complex, and tell the people all about this life." In obedience to this, they entered the temple complex at daybreak and began to teach. (Acts 5:19-21 HCSB)

Why don't we obey? Could it be because we don't truly believe? Maybe we think that can have a mental acknowledgment of God and Jesus and His church without there being any change or repentance. Too often we think that belief is something we think rather than something we are.

If that is where you are, then my call to you is to come clean with God; recognize and submit to His leadership in your life, and when He speaks to you, act. You see, when Jesus bids a man, He bids him come and die (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship). What does that mean? When you know what you believe, to the point of knowing what you would die for, you can truly understand what it is you live for. That should be how we define a believer. Do you believe?

Pastor Trey Rhodes

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