--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Here’s what I would say is the issue he…" description: "\"“Here’s what I would say is the issue he is trying to address. Often in churches, we try to get people to affirm the right beliefs, the right points of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/dallas-willard-819_beliefs_here-s-what-i-would-say-is-the-issue-he_1756824.jpg" --- # Here’s what I would say is the issue he is trying to… ![“Here’s what I would say is the issue he is trying to address. Often in churches, we try to get people to affirm the right beliefs, the right points of view. The real test of what I actually believe is “Does it guide what I do?” For example, if I am up on a skyscraper, I would never step off…” quote by Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/dallas-willard-819_beliefs_here-s-what-i-would-say-is-the-issue-he_1756824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/dallas-willard-819_beliefs_here-s-what-i-would-say-is-the-issue-he_1756824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/263/dallas-willard-819_beliefs_here-s-what-i-would-say-is-the-issue-he_1756824.jpg) > ““Here’s what I would say is the issue he is trying to address. Often in churches, we try to get people to affirm the right beliefs, the right points of view. The real test of what I actually believe is “Does it guide what I do?” For example, if I am up on a skyscraper, I would never step off, because I believe in gravity. I don’t have to force myself to believe in gravity. I don’t have to hype myself. I just believe in gravity. So I won’t step off that roof unless I am trying to hurt myself. My actions are always a result of my intentions and my perceptions of how things are. Sometimes in churches we work to get people to affirm stuff, even though they don’t believe in it like they believe in gravity. So somebody will say, “I believe that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God.” But the Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive, yet they are not giving. So, do they really believe that the Bible is the authoritative, inspired Word of God? Well, at one level, they think they do, but the most important level of belief is their mental map of reality. What are those perceptions that actually guide how we live, what we do? Because that is simply how reality looks to us. What we want to do is not simply teach doctrine and get people to affirm it. We want to help people have the same mental map that Jesus had of how things are.”” [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True belief is demonstrated by actions aligned with reality, not merely verbal affirmation; authenticity requires congruence between mind and deed. **In simple terms:** Belief shows in actions, not words. Key Takeaway Align beliefs with actions. Themes integrity faith practical theology Mood thoughtful serious Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church leadership - personal growth - ethical decision making Key Concepts Epistemology behavioral consistency spiritual formation Questions to Reflect On - What actions reveal your deepest convictions? - How can you test the authenticity of your beliefs? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beliefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) ## Related quotes > [As a Christian man, I have beliefs of what's right and what's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-jackson/as-a-christian-man-i-have-beliefs-of-what-s-right-and-what-s-wrong/) [Mark Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-jackson/) > [I believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. And I say no, it's not, Dad. Well, I believe that it is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-believe-that-the-bible-is-the-literal-word-of-god-and-i-say-no-it-s/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [I think there is a tendency for people to get rigid and caught up in their beliefs of what is right and wrong, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matisyahu/i-think-there-is-a-tendency-for-people-to-get-rigid-and-caught-up-in/) [Matisyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matisyahu/) > [As a Republican, I know that myself and the overwhelming majority of the Republicans I have served or interacted with understand that Americans have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-lopez-cantera/as-a-republican-i-know-that-myself-and-the-overwhelming-majority-of/) [Carlos Lopez-Cantera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-lopez-cantera/) > [I taught Bible Study, and there was period where I thought all of my beliefs were right, and everybody who disagreed with me was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/i-taught-bible-study-and-there-was-period-where-i-thought-all-of-my/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I'm not a criminal or a radical. I'm not 'dangerous.' I'm a human being with opinions and beliefs that I have a right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enes-kanter/i-m-not-a-criminal-or-a-radical-i-m-not-dangerous-i-m-a-human-being/) [Enes Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enes-kanter/) > [“There are infinite wrong beliefs and there is only one right belief, one is not aware of that at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/there-are-infinite-wrong-beliefs-and-there-is-only-one-right-belief/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“If we’re absolutely sure that our beliefs are right, and those of others wrong; that we are motivated by good, and others by evil;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/if-we-re-absolutely-sure-that-our-beliefs-are-right-and-those-of/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [If faith is what you have to go on, if faith is the link between your beliefs and the world at large, your beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/if-faith-is-what-you-have-to-go-on-if-faith-is-the-link-between-your/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [I'm often asked whether I believe in Global Warming. I now just reply with the question: "Do you believe in Gravity?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-m-often-asked-whether-i-believe-in-global-warming-i-now-just-reply/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Oh, I never use a seat belt. I don't believe in gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/oh-i-never-use-a-seat-belt-i-don-t-believe-in-gravity/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [...evolution is not a religious tenet, to which one swears allegiance or belief as a matter of faith.. It is a factual reality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/evolution-is-not-a-religious-tenet-to-which-one-swears-allegiance-or/) [Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/) > [You know, in the suburbs, most people believe in gravity, but they don't have much of a sense of humor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/you-know-in-the-suburbs-most-people-believe-in-gravity-but-they-don-t/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [Even people who don't believe in science still have to believe in gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-tosh/even-people-who-don-t-believe-in-science-still-have-to-believe-in/) [Daniel Tosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-tosh/) > [Evolution is not something you can believe in or not believe in like do you believe in gravity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/evolution-is-not-something-you-can-believe-in-or-not-believe-in-like/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) ## More by Dallas Willard > [Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/today-it-is-the-skeptics-who-are-the-social-conformists-though/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > ["Spirituality" wrongly understood or pursued is a major source of human misery and rebellion against God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/spirituality-wrongly-understood-or-pursued-is-a-major-source-of-human/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Sabbath is a way of life (Heb 4:3; 9-11). It is simply "casting all your anxiety on Him," to find that in actual fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/sabbath-is-a-way-of-life-heb-4-3-9-11-it-is-simply-casting-all-your/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [In many cases, our need to wonder about or be told what God wants in a certain situation is nothing short of a clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/in-many-cases-our-need-to-wonder-about-or-be-told-what-god-wants-in-a/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [Discipline, strictly speaking, is activity carried on to prepare us indirectly for some activity other than itself. We do not practice the piano to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/discipline-strictly-speaking-is-activity-carried-on-to-prepare-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“The Spirit makes Christ present to us and draws us toward his likeness. It is as we thus behold the “glory of the Lord”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-spirit-makes-christ-present-to-us-and-draws-us-toward-his/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We are unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God's great universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-are-unceasing-spiritual-beings-with-an-eternal-destiny-in-god-s/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [We know we can't be spiritually transformed by just focusing on the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-know-we-can-t-be-spiritually-transformed-by-just-focusing-on-the/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [To allow lust (or strong desires) to govern our life is to exalt our will over God's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/to-allow-lust-or-strong-desires-to-govern-our-life-is-to-exalt-our/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [My central claim is that we become like Christ by doing one thing-by following Him in the overall style of life He chose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/my-central-claim-is-that-we-become-like-christ-by-doing-one-thing-by/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“The aim of God in history is the creation of an all-inclusive community of loving persons, with Himself included in that community as its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-aim-of-god-in-history-is-the-creation-of-an-all-inclusive/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The greatest issue facing the world today, with all its heartbreaking needs, is whether those who, by profession or culture, are identified as ‘Christians’…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/the-greatest-issue-facing-the-world-today-with-all-its-heartbreaking/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [What we can do with these means (our own unassisted strength) is still very small compared to what we could do in acting in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/what-we-can-do-with-these-means-our-own-unassisted-strength-is-still/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) [Explore all 357 Dallas Willard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) ## More Beliefs quotes > [People always wonder when the world is going to end. I believe that the world will end when everyone stops loving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nichole-fickes/people-always-wonder-when-the-world-is-going-to-end-i-believe-that/) [Nichole Fickes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nichole-fickes/) > [“Your life is your statement to the world representing your values, your beliefs, your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-arenson/your-life-is-your-statement-to-the-world-representing-your-values/) David Arenson > [Our beliefs are like the unquestioned commands, telling us how things are, what's possible and what's impossible, what we can and can not do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/our-beliefs-are-like-the-unquestioned-commands-telling-us-how-things/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Update your belief! If necessary, throw it to the bin! Don’t exaggerate your belief! Remember that your belief is not that much important; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/update-your-belief-if-necessary-throw-it-to-the-bin-don-t-exaggerate/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I do believe in love at first sight. I believe in a lot of thing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-do-believe-in-love-at-first-sight-i-believe-in-a-lot-of-thing-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My parents were, had a marriage of passion, and the passion was about their religious beliefs. They were both immigrant families that - well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-jackson/my-parents-were-had-a-marriage-of-passion-and-the-passion-was-about/) [Phil Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-jackson/) > [I believe in my Mormon faith, and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers - I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-believe-in-my-mormon-faith-and-i-endeavor-to-live-by-it-my-faith-is/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The first principle of cognitive therapy is that all your moods are created by your 'cognitions,' or thoughts. A cognition refers to the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/the-first-principle-of-cognitive-therapy-is-that-all-your-moods-are/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“What is held real is based upon personal beliefs that drive perception.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/what-is-held-real-is-based-upon-personal-beliefs-that-drive-perception/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [I want everybody to worship the God of love instead of worshipping the God of hate and torture. But in the meantime, we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mosab-hassan-yousef/i-want-everybody-to-worship-the-god-of-love-instead-of-worshipping/) [Mosab Hassan Yousef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mosab-hassan-yousef/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“My belief is the belief of no beliefs. That's my belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-scott-mcleod/my-belief-is-the-belief-of-no-beliefs-that-s-my-belief/) [T. Scott McLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-scott-mcleod/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [There is no power shortage in heaven, and God is never in a recession. But His grace is sufficient to meet every need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/there-is-no-power-shortage-in-heaven-and-god-is-never-in-a-recession/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [“Your beliefs, and your beliefs alone, belong to you. You are the only one who is with you for your entire life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-ruiz-jr/your-beliefs-and-your-beliefs-alone-belong-to-you-you-are-the-only/) [Miguel Ruiz Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-ruiz-jr/) [Browse all 1,331 Beliefs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beliefs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Here’s what I would say is the issue he is trying to address. Often in churches, we try to get people to affirm the right beliefs, the right points of view. The real test of what I actually believe is “Does it guide what I do?” For example, if I am up on a skyscraper, I would never step off, because I believe in gravity. I don’t have to force myself to believe in gravity. I don’t have to hype myself. I just believe in gravity. So I won’t step off that roof unless I am trying to hurt myself. My actions are always a result of my intentions and my perceptions of how things are. Sometimes in churches we work to get people to affirm stuff, even though they don’t believe in it like they believe in gravity. So somebody will say, “I believe that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative Word of God.” But the Bible says it is more blessed to give than to receive, yet they are not giving. So, do they really believe that the Bible is the authoritative, inspired Word of God? Well, at one level, they think they do, but the most important level of belief is their mental map of reality. What are those perceptions that actually guide how we live, what we do? Because that is simply how reality looks to us. What we want to do is not simply teach doctrine and get people to affirm it. 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