Do You Know What You Believe? Do You Believe What You Know?

Most people go to Church because they were raised in church. Now don't get me wrong, being raised in Church is a good thing. Most people go to the particular denominational church that they attend because they were raised in that denomination. And that is not necessarily a good thing. If you were to ask the average person in the pew today, he probably could not tell you what the major doctrines in his denomination are, much less be able to defend them with his Bible. His response would be "I know what I believe...". But, it is more than likely just a matter of being something that he has heard over the years and he accepts it as being true. Unfortunately, that is the reason so many are lead astray in our modern culture of "believe whatever you want". Then there is the problem of, do we really believe what we say we believe? Do we believe that the Bible is God's Inspired Word written to us so that we can know Him better and live better in this sinful world? If so, why don't we read it more? Do we really believe that God wants us to be gathered in His presence, together as a body, and worshiping Him? If so, why do we have such a hard time coming to Church? Do we really believe that God will take care of us and supply our every need? If so, why is so difficult to turn lose of our tithes? Let me remind you that the word believe actually came from a combining of the two words live & by. In other words, "we live by what we believe". Or do we really believe?