by J. Randal Matheny

In 1976, Biblical Research Press published Arlie J. Hoover's study book called Ideas and Their Consequences. He demonstrated that the tenets of modern naturalism have disastrous results. "The thesis is simple: bad theology and bad philosophy make for bad consequences" (p. 1).

What we believe produces in our life inexorable consequences. What we espouse and teach multiplies those consequences in many lives.

So Jesus says. How does one recognize false teachers? By the consequences of their teaching. "You will know them by their fruits" (Matt. 7:16). "Fruits" is a picturesque way of saying results, consequences, product.

The old saw says, you are what you think. No less true for its overuse.

Perhaps the most important concept is one's belief about God. In his book Your God Is Too Small, J. B. Phillips charged that limited views of God have devastating results for our faith.

Paul quotes from Psalm 116 to express this truth, "I believed, therefore I spoke" (2 Cor. 4:13). His "speaking" expresses not merely a flow of words, but the entire effort of a lifetime to preach the gospel as the greatest demonstration of love possible. His "concepts" of God, of Christ, of salvation, of Christian responsibility, all led him to a specific course of action.

Whatever we believe about God, about others, about ourselves, about our world will affect our actions and the outcome of our entire lives.

Boiling it all down: To have the right concepts, the proper ideas, the truths which reflect reality as God created it, I go to the Scriptures. They guide my thinking, burst my illusions, correct my errors, open up the truth that may bring, to me and those around me, the eternal relationship with God.

As Paul advised Timothy, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you" (1 Tim. 4.16).