Belief that Works for Me

Life outside of Christ is existance without purpose

Belief is more than comfort; true faith challenges us beyond what merely works for us.

The Conversation

"It works for me!" were the final words of an angry man as he ended our conversation. During our discussion about faith, he suggested that my belief in God stemmed from a need to cope with death and dissatisfaction with life, implying that I was either mentally deluded or had been brainwashed.

Ignoring his condescending jabs, I asked him about his beliefs. He explained that while he believed in a God who created the world, he rejected the God of the Bible, finding it absurd to believe in a deity who helped a man build an ark and fill it with animals. He also couldn’t believe in a perfect God of the Bible because of all the ugliness in the world. He mentioned that he practiced meditation, believing one could reach a higher state through self-reflection, and embraced reincarnation, asserting that we return to each life improved, learning from our past experiences.

Belief

It's fascinating how people can embrace a wide range of ideas—conspiracy theories, the Big Bang, evolution, UFOs, reincarnation, and even Bigfoot. Some even believe in lizard people controlling the world, with a few so consumed by this notion that they’ve committed crimes in its name. It's intriguing how readily people adopt various beliefs, yet when God is mentioned, they often draw the line, dismissing it as absurd.

I told the man I was speaking with that I believed in God for many reasons, but two stood out. First, I’ve encountered Jesus in the spiritual realm. At that moment, he gave me a look that seemed to say, "I knew you were delusional," and I realized that some experiences can only be understood by those who have lived them. I explained that there's ample evidence for God—creation itself, the Bible, and the historical reality of Jesus. When I asked him what his beliefs were based on, he got upset and simply said, "It works for me," before walking away.

Does it Work?

It’s interesting how many people suggest that my belief in God stems from a need for comfort. First, God doesn’t always comfort my flesh; instead, He desires better for me, which often means confronting the rebellious, sinful part of myself—my flesh, which is like a cancer that destroys us all (Romans 7:18-19). Second, I didn’t choose a God who suits my needs; God chose me. I came to know Him, and now I serve and live for Him.

Isn’t that the crux of humanity's dilemma? We often embrace every theory except God because those alternatives cater to our selfish needs. While God demands our lives, our beliefs tend to revolve around serving our desires. Even so-called Christians can adopt a "Santa Claus" view of God—believing in a deity who serves their needs and revolves around their desires (Matthew 6:24).

When an atheist claims they can be moral without God, they’re essentially saying they don’t need a divine standard to define morality. But that’s precisely what humanity requires—without God, morality becomes subjective and lacks a firm foundation (Romans 3:10-12). They prefer to answer to themselves, rather than to God.

The gentleman I spoke with believed in a God capable of creating the universe but rejected the God of the Bible because that God challenged his independent nature. He claimed this life was "working for him." But what do you truly believe? Is your belief based on what works for you, or are you open to the possibility that the truth may challenge your views?

Everyone has the right to their beliefs, but believing in something simply because it works for you can lead to a form of blind faith. True belief emerges only when we look beyond ourselves, examine all the evidence, and thoughtfully weigh our choices. This world is much larger than any one individual, so the answers we seek lie beyond our personal perspectives (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Evidence

I find it fascinating that people are often willing to base their lives on beliefs with little or flimsy evidence, yet when it comes to God—where abundant evidence exists—they reject Him outright and demand proof. Some may even acknowledge that God created the world, yet struggle to grasp how He could create anything else or sustain it. How can a God be capable of creating the vast universe and sustaining life, yet somehow be “incapable” of anything beyond that?

If we open our hearts, minds, and eyes, the evidence for God becomes undeniable. He is the only explanation that truly makes sense, the foundation that accounts for all creation. Everything else—beliefs, theories, or systems humans cling to—may seem to “work for us,” but they are ultimately man-made constructs that fail to explain the full reality. Only God provides the clarity and coherence that reason and truth demand.

Summary

  • Belief should not be chosen simply because it works for personal comfort.
  • True faith challenges our independent desires and calls us to serve God, not ourselves.
  • Morality without God becomes subjective and unstable.
  • Encounters with Jesus or the truth of God can only be fully understood by those who experience them personally.
  • Faith is about seeking truth beyond personal preference and embracing evidence, history, and divine reality.