Theoretical truth is no protection against practical heresy. Our doctrines and teachings inform our practices. They help us determine what our practices should be. And our practices inform our doctrines and teachings. They tell us what our doctrines actually are.

We read in the Bible about a God who communicates with people and actively moves to transform lives through healing, deliverance, miracles, and prophetic words. Jesus – in all his words and deeds – reveals to us the perfection and fullness of God. That’s our doctrine. If we think that is true, then we should live like that. If Jesus did those things, then Jesus still does those things. Or at least he wants to do them through us. Too often, our practice shows that we believe in a disinterested, un-involved, unloving God.

We should try by all means to live like we really believe what we claim to believe. This mean overcoming the disconnect between what we claim to be true and what our actions show about what we actually hold as true.

“Though we’re strangers, still I love you, I love you more than your mask.

And you know you have to trust this to be true, and I know that’s much to ask…

And though I love you, still we’re strangers, prisoners in these lonely hearts
And though our blindness separates us, still a light shines in the dark…”

– Rich Mullins “Peace”

We like to use religion as a mask to hide our sinfulness from others and most of all from ourselves. And that works pretty well with most people. But those who are fooled can’t love you and those who love you can’t be fooled. This includes God of course, who loves you more than any other and cannot ever be fooled. You can’t fool love, so why bother trying?