The Thoughts of Ryan-C

*just so we are on the same page, I stole this idea from Piper*

We all have belief systems. Some are complex, some are simple. Wether you know what your’s is or not, you have one and it guides your everyday decisions and life.

This is what guides the “therefores” of life.

I love my wife, therefore I do my best to treat her as Christ loves the church.

I know I’m depraved, therefore I need a saviour. 

I have desires to learn, therefore I read.

The question we need to ask ourselves is “what shapes my belief system?”

As we look to the scriptures for answers we can very easily use the example of Paul. Throughout his writings he uses the word therefore over 60 times (ESV; not giving him authorship of Hebrews). In the book of Romans he gives us 10+ chapters of theology and then a handful of chapters full of therefores.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” -Romans 12:1

The entire 11 chapters leading up to this were full of rich theology and a biblical worldview that calls us to recognize our sinfulness and need for a saviour. And because we have a saviour we should live out of a therefore. 

You are a sinner, you have rejected God, God sent His son, He died for you and because of you… therefore you should be a living sacrifice. Therefore you should love your neighbor. Therefore you should spread the Gospel. Therefore you should be in community with others. Etc…

Every time we do something, we need to think of the therefore we based our action on and see if it lines up with out beliefs. I often find myself realizing that the two don’t always line up and that my beliefs aren’t always driving my actions. 

What therefores are you striving to live out of? What do you need to change?

Books to help with your therefores….

Surprised by Grace by Tullian Tchividjian

The Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney