“I am a rock, I am an island,” wrote Paul Simon. Interesting lyrics and tune from yesteryear, but probably not a great roadmap to bliss. Can you really hold to a belief in a bubble?
What one believes is a choice, and some would argue a personal, even private one that impacts no one beyond me, myself, and I. It’s my life. After all, we enjoy a free country and freedom of speech. The thought police have no business in my head, or heart, if I believe something to that extent. All that sounds about right for today’s culture, which celebrates self-care and realization above all.
It’s All Connected
Here is some reality. What you believe absolutely matters… and matters beyond you and your space. Why? Belief is the forerunner of action… yours or someone else’s. At the end of the road or sooner, action triggers reaction. Let’s call that consequence.
Belief, action, consequences.
Ripple Effect Of Belief
Consider this sequence in the recent tragedy none of us can escape as it continues to play out. A Christian and conservative advocate believes to the point of martyrdom. A Utah man reportedly believes otherwise to the point of assassination. His family is left to believe that turning him over to the law is a must. Social media haters believe they should weigh in. Some of their employers believe they must be fired. A TV comedian believes a non-comedic assessment is warranted. A federal official believes the comedian must go. He does for a while, but many local stations still believe he is not fit for their air. Tens of thousands mourn the slain advocate while others curse his message… all based on what they believe.
Of course, you do not have a proclivity for violence. Unless your life is somehow air-gapped in a bubble though, whatever you believe eventually will have impact. And if not reaching others, you and I will live the consequences of belief. We already know this… see it every day, every way of our lives. Choices, decisions, beliefs we held that came to fruition… some good, some not.
Not All Beliefs Are Equal
We can weather messed-up thinking that led us to believe a job, friend, relationship would be great… and then wasn’t. We can ill afford to believe misinformation, half-truth, a lie… that is consequential in this life and especially the next.
If the assassin story is correct as it’s being told, he believed a bullet would silence the messenger. It did. But he would never believe countless messengers have been inspired to multiply that messaging worldwide. He killed the messenger and advanced the message. Call that fate or providence as you will. What the shooter wrongly believed then… has unforeseen consequences now and beyond. So do the important beliefs we all hold.
Consequential Belief
Oh… the message the advocate died believing? It’s *believe and be saved. But you already knew that. The question is if you believe it… the best possible end of story. Either way…**this belief is eternally consequential.
