Right Belief vs Right Action
A couple of prominent blogs are wrestling with this topic in somewhat different ways and from different angles. You can read them here and here. An interesting question that has surfaced for me is: Can one live out the values of the Kingdom (as embodied and taught by Jesus) without ever embracing the theological claims the Gospels make about Jesus? If so how does and will Jesus view them and respond to them?
For example, take someone like Ghandi who held tightly to a non-violent position, practiced simplicity, valued a contemplative rule of life, worked and championed the poor and oppressed, fought against injustice, was a peacemaker, and intensely read, and to a great degree embodied the Sermon On The Mount, but never claimed or fully embraced the Christian faith. Is a person like this among the sheep or the goats in Jesus’ parable in Matthew 25? How does right belief figure into the equation in this example? Does it?
What about somone who vigorously champions truth, correct doctrine, right orthodoxy, and exemplifies and oozes sound theology, but are also known for being arrogant, brash, mean spirited, rude, cocky, intolerant, and unkind? Does right belief trump right action in this situation? Why or why not?
Which of the above two examples would Jesus seem to favor? Is there ever a point when one is more important than the other? Or do both have equal value and importance? If so in what way?
To further complicate the matter, when Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan part of the point seemed to be that right belief or orthodoxy does not always bring about right action. It also seems to indicate that the converse is true; that wrong theological thinking should not assume misguided ethics. The lawyer who initially asked the question in this context had a sound theology, but did not demonstrate Kingdom ethics. On the other hand, the Samaritan, whom represented an unorthodox theology, correctly applied the ethics of the Kingdom, Jesus then proceeded to counsel the lawyer to go and do like the Samaritan.
So where does right belief and right action figure into the matirx of our relationships with people in a pluralistic culture? How should we respond to those who demonstrate and embody the ethics of Jesus, but who espouse another belief (theological) system? Do beliefs really matter when people are mutually seeking peace, justice for the poor and oppressed, who deal with people and nations non-violently, and who honestly desire to serve humanity and be a “Good Samaritan” in the world? Do their actions in the world count even though they hold to a different belief system, but in reality are living like Jesus in the world?
Just some questions I am thinking about.
Above artwork by 12 Stone Art
September 27, 2007 at 6:33 pm
forgive me as I have not read the posts you mentioned, but i’ll comment quickly. I think this is a false dicotomy. I agree that simple belief as intellectual assent is not helpful and I’ll leave God to decide about the good folks like ghandi.
But I would say, that believing in the right way is what we are called to do. belief is at it’s best when it’s connected to action. That is to say, belief and action are two sides of the same coin in the life of Jesus. They can not be seperated. So the question then becomes, am I believing the right way instead of do I believe the right things.
September 27, 2007 at 8:53 pm
Mark,
Are you defining believing in the right way as the balance of both sound orthodoxy and compassionate action? And are you further saying believing the right things as perhaps having sound doctrine but one’s actions aren’t neccessarily informed by one’s belief? Unpack that a bit for me.
I guess I am asking more from the standpoint as to what our missional responsibility is to those likened to ghandi? Those who embody the ethics of Jesus, but whom may not believe Jesus is messiah or view Him redemptively. How do we speak the truth in love to them? When we call, invite, or ask them to follow Jesus are we, at that point, calling them to right belief, since they seem to be already living out the ethics Jesus espoused? How does it impact our relationships to those folks and our missional calling in the world?
June 8, 2008 at 1:08 am
Good q’s. Personally I think that right action is more important and better received than right beliefs. Belies are highly personal and subject to change anyway. Actions are seen by all and you are judged by others by your actions and attitudes, not your beliefs. Then theres faith which is different still. Faith moves mountains, beliefs are… well beliefs. Beliefs can be explained, apologetics is all about explaining Christian beliefs. Faith IS, doesn’t need to be explained, doesn’t need approval, doesn’t need a logical base, it just is. Anyway, ‘nough of that. What you do shows more than what you believe and if your actions don’t reflect your beliefs then you probably need to reflect on what your beliefs are. Just a few thoughts of my own. Good post.