The chicken or the egg?

… asks Wayne Rumsby

What comes first, the chicken or the egg? I remember as a boy, trying to work this out. I ended up with more questions than answers. What about the clouds and the rain? Or what about the alphabet, who decided that A should be first? Today I wonder about a different first. Do we find God and then go to church or do we find God at church?  Many have pondered this through the discussion of the Believe, Behave, and Belong formula.

I often hear that beliefs drive or define behavior, and yet there are many situations where our behavior modifies our beliefs. Most learning works when we agree to try things we don’t necessarily believe, in order to experience the consequences. Even the old expression, learn by burn, suggests that experience is a very effective agent of learning. Is it possible that behavior and belief are like the chicken and the egg. We grow as we learn and we learn as we grow. To take it one step further, do we experience God and His salvation in this manner or is it simply an event?

The evangelical order has always been, believe in Jesus, then behave in a Christ-like way, then join the church and belong. It seems to have worked quite well, especially in the boom years of evangelicalism. So who came up with this recent church growth strategy of encouraging people to belong first? Why do we put signs on the front lawns declaring that all are welcome? Often those same churches have training classes teaching their brand or doctrine to their new would-be adherents. I wonder if that’s what Jesus would do? The woman at the well fully expected Jesus to ask her to leave just because of her status. In most cases Jesus simply invited people to follow him. Was he suggesting that if you hang around, you will begin to see the truth lived out, and it may be easier to believe having seen it demonstrated?

Consider these three different styles of teaching. You can tell someone about something. You can demonstrate the idea, or you can involve them, even immerse them in the idea. To believe, as I understand it, is have so much confidence in knowing something, that it changes your behavior. So what does it take to gain that kind of confidence. I don’t think there are very many people who have thrown themselves into a body of water, having read about swimming. As wonderful as words are I don’t think they are enough to create belief.

Another interesting thing about believing, is that it is most accurately expressed in our actions. What we do holds more truth than what we say. Even when we try to convince ourselves that we do or don’t believe something, our actions often reveal the truth. Sometimes it is expressed as head vs. heart, or knowledge verses feelings. This struggle is perfectly expressed in Romans 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.

I’m not much of a scientist, however, I do understand the importance of order in the universe and especially order of events. I think that sharing the epic truth of the Kingdom of God with people involves inviting them in, involving them in an experiential process that includes and is validated by the living words in the Bible. The kind of experiences I’m talking about are so compelling that they change behavior and reveal new beliefs. This is salvation, it’s messy and in some cases prolonged. I would even suggest that it isn’t individual. If we really let Belong, Behave and Believe happen we would all experience a collective salvation experience. In case you think that I made a mistake by placing behave before believe, let me assure you that that’s what I meant. I believe, that belief comes from practiced behavior, in a safe and loving environment.

St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times - and if necessary use words”

 

Writer: Wayne Rumsby is at least a fourth generation follower of Jesus Christ. In his late 30’s Wayne responded to an invitation to visit an inner city mission in the heart of Toronto. At the time he was working as a graphic designer. It wasn’t long before he left his job in the fast paced ad business, in the glass towers, to become a full time missionary on the streets and in the alleys. The focus of his mission was to help the marginalized discover God through meaningful work. For most of the past decade Wayne was helping people discover who God had created them to be, by teaching them to make beautiful furniture in a woodworking shop. Today Wayne and his wife Linda are working with the team at 614 Regent Park with the very same vision, helping people discover who God has created them to be, and more. 

 

1 Comment to The chicken or the egg?

1. (With tongue in cheek)

   Since Genesis tells us that God created birds, not eggs the answers pretty clear. Of course, Which is the bird and which the egg?” is the question!!

   N’est pas?

   Terry C.
Terry Camsey on August 21st, 2010

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