Our Beelieving
Years ago, I taught what I was taught about believing and behaving—that our beliefs drive our behaviors. Yet if it was that simple, why did I see so many who seemed to believe rightly but behaved badly?
Years later, based on more learning about formation from biblical theology, neurotheology, and experience, I now teach from what I also see of how our sense of belonging shapes our believing and behaving.
To the point, consider how people around the world subscribe to the particular religion of their people group and place. Belonging to a people and place shapes beliefs and behaviors. The concept of culture expresses this. One’s tribe constitutes its cultural norms, like values, communication processes, language, societal structures, meaning, play, and purpose. In other words, which tribe a person belongs to shapes which beliefs and behaviors develop.
There is a wisdom of belonging that manifests throughout creation, from the one flesh of the man and woman to the various kinds of animals, fish, birds, and plants. As Solomon directed hearers to observe the ants in order to gain wisdom (Proverbs 6:6–11), we can also observe other groups in creation for insight.
So let’s consider the wisdom to be gained by observing a beehive. The whole hive belongs to a single queen, with each bee behaving (i.e. working) in all ways loyal and coordinated. And how do new hives form? When a queen and her bees leave the old for the new.
Wisdom from the beehive metaphor rings true for our belonging and behaving in alignment with true believing. May we so discover how to believe in Him together—belonging to one Lord, practicing one faith, and leaving the old for the new through one baptism.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
(Ephesians 4:4–6, LSB)