What is the difference between thinking and believing? Can thinkers become believers and believers become thinkers?

In the eyes of many people , it is fashionable and admirable to look or sound smart ,intelligent and clever than all the other people around .

Did you know : Believers are thinkers but not all thinkers are believers. I know of a friendly but lonely nice man who sits behind a computer night and day creating beautiful AI art and content using ChatGBT and other AI platforms . If you see his art and content ,you will surely follow him and think he is a spiritual guru of some sort yet he is not and He even laughs about it sometime. I have got so much love and great respect for him and according to his own words , I am his only friend in the whole community . I don`t know how sincere and honest he is about me being his only friend .Could he be flattering with me or he really mean it? We will never know because we are all sometimes confronted with a crisis of thinking and believing what is before us .

Those who believe they are smarter and more intelligent than others , enjoy having followers ,admirers and an audience to share their “newly found knowledge” while those who feel like they are less smart ,intelligent or clever will forever follow those who looks and sound like they are the smartest ,most intelligent and cleverest ones. Is this a case of Superiority and Inferiority complex? Leaders and followers. Who are the leaders and who are the followers?

What is Superiority and Inferiority complex?

Before we get to Superiority and Inferiority complex , have you read our previous post about Questioning God where we asked if Questioning is the same with Asking?

We touched on : Is the word “Questioning “ in any way carry the same tone and context as the word “Asking” ?You can ask a teacher a question but is it the same with questioning your teacher? When one is questioning authority ,is he or she expressing doubt in the legitimacy and validity of that authority? On the other hand , when one is “asking” for directions ,is he or she seeking genuine information so they can take the right path and direction? Read all about it .

What is Superiority and Inferiority complex?

According to one writer, A superiority complex is a belief that your abilities or accomplishments are somehow dramatically better than other people’s. People with a superiority complex may be condescending, smug, or mean to other people who don’t agree with them. Read more about it and come up with your own thoughts. Click here to read

Everyday unseen life struggles:

We may all be struggling differently with many of life`s realities from the moment we l wake up. Others can sometimes go to bed without eating and have no idea what to eat the next day ,where to go ,who to see or ask for help while some have to decide what to eat ,what to wear ,where to go ,what to do ,who to meet while for others ,they plan all these things well ahead of time. This shows that there is a lot of thinking required in life . Some think more and do less, while some think less and do more.

Some think they are better ,smarter ,better good looking , better educated and in face better in everything than the others. Many will even say instead of thinking they are better ,they actually assume they know that they are better than others in many ways than one .

THINKING VS BELIEVING

The word Thinking in simple words means to process information. According to University of cambridge ,thinking is also known as Cognition: Read about it their article: click here

I asked Chat GPT what is the meaning of the word: thinking .ChatGPT said:

Thinking is the process of using your mind to consider, reason, or reflect on ideas, information, or experiences. It involves cognitive functions like analyzing, synthesizing, problem-solving, and making decisions. Thinking can be conscious, like when you’re solving a math problem, or subconscious, like when you’re recalling a memory. It helps us make sense of the world, understand complex concepts, and navigate our daily lives

On the other hand ,i asked Chat GPT what is the meaning of the word: believing .ChatGPT said:

“Believing” refers to accepting something as true or real, often without requiring proof or evidence. It involves trusting in a concept, idea, or person. Belief can be based on faith, experience, or personal conviction, and it plays a significant role in shaping our attitudes, behaviors, and understanding of the world.

Imagine how Computer technology is now so advanced that its even making access to information easier than before. If you are too lazy to create content , different platforms can do that for you.

Thinking is shallow and the word Believing is deep. How so ?

Our thinking is so limited that we require information from many academic , science ,business or philosophical books in order for us to act or sound wiser when in fact we might be fools. From the day we are born , when we crawled on our bellies ,up to high school or university ,we have been ever learning .Christians ,Muslims , Atheists or non believers ,we all might been having our different thinking and beliefs but today let us borrow some information from a special controversial book ,the Bible . You don`t have to be a believer to read the bible , I don’t know know what you think . Lets go .

A Wiseman wrote:

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.-Proverbs 23:7

Mystery of this text : We all know that thinking happens in the mind but the writer is saying ‘For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he”.

What is the context or deeper meaning of this text?

Thinking is processing gathered information to come up with conclusions. The conclusions can be correct or wrong ,good or bad ,all depending with your understanding. Believing is accepting what you have been told . How many people struggle to accept what they read in the bible? Do you struggle with accepting some or all the text in the bible? You are not alone ,It happens to many people.

Read the full first parts of the chapter: Proverbs 23 verse 1:

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:²And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

³Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

⁴Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

⁵Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

⁶Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:

Main Lesson of Proverbs 23 is that : Not everything is what it seems to be. Some things in life are traps put in place for you because of your appetite . Appetites differ , some love food , riches ,fame ,stories , power ,beauty and even sex .

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;⁶in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight

Who do trust? God or yourself. Many people are so obsessed with trusting only themselves. We call it trusting your Gut feeling. Just how much can we rely on our thoughts and gut feeling?

Isaiah 55:7 says: ,

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Believing helped many people who were in trying tough times.

God does not require our level of thinking because it is limited. He only requires us to humble ourselves and believe. Believing and having faith are like twins.

John 14:1

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

John 20:27

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Mark 10: 15

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Two blind men are asked a question in Matthew 9:28-31 Amplified Bible (AMP)

When He went into the house, the blind men came up to Him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith [your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal] it will be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows this!” But they went out and spread the news about Him throughout that whole district.

John 16 : 31 says:

“Do you finally believe?” Jesus replied

Jesus was confirming their faith by asking his disciples , his followers and believers as a response to their remarks after they had failed to understand his words in the previous verses especially in John 16 verse 9. His disciples said,

“See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech. 30Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”

Who is your Lord?

Religion and traditions of men has made people to accept terrifying teachings based on fear not love. What have you heard ? Why do you believe what you believe? I have friends who are Muslims ,Christians ,Traditionalists and some are non believers at all. According to Muslims and available free information on the internet ,an angel or angels will come after your burial to ask you three questions. 1.Who is you Lord .2.What is you religion , Who is your prophet? According to those with knowledge and information in Islam , A righteous believer will respond correctly, saying that their Lord is Allah, that Islam is their religion, and that Muhammad is their prophet. , see link

Must believers be trapped in psychological and spiritual terror ,a fear that keeps its people in chains of futuristic horror. Christianity is divided. Some teach hell more than love. The list is endless.

It is written in John 3:16 that it is the love of the God creator of heaven and earth that he gave his all. It says,:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God loved the world and gave . What does the word ,World mean ? The bible says we must not love the world, why ?Is it because we have nothing to give the world but he had something to give the world? Dear friends ,the message of Jesus Christ as a gift to the world has been preached .

Jesus Christ is Lord :Romans 10:9 says

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Is Jesus Christ your Lord?

Your answer is either Yes or No . More people are accepting him as their Lord and Savior while many who once professed to be his believers are forsaking the faith they once claimed to uphold. The story of Jesus Christ is being told through different voices. There is a lot of misrepresentation about Jesus by many who claim to be his ambassadors. You can either love or hurt the story of Jesus Christ depending on who is telling you about him.

Believers who got lost trying to become critical thinkers.

Hebrews 6;4-

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5.who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 6.and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

James 4:10 says: , Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

The creator of heaven and earth used King Nebuchadnezzar a non believer to fulfill his will. God humbled the powerful king until he came back to his normal senses.

In the book of Daniel 4:37 ,the King Nebuchadnezzar finally confesses and testifies: Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Our thinking Vs God`s thinking

Read the whole chapter of Isaiah 55 and discover how shallow our thinking is compared to God`s thinking and plans.

Thinking is a gift so is believing.

All creatures have been given the gift of thinking and believing. Even chickens ,donkeys and pigs can think. Human beings have been given authority over all the animals and nature on earth.This is revealed in the bible through the story of creation. Adam and Eve became managers or stewards of the garden and all life in it. This means they were able to think and reason. Don`t we have managers in companies ? Of course we do . A manager knows that he or she is employed by the owner of the company. Who owns the earth and if we are managers ,whom are we working for? God the creator of heaven and earth of course , unless we are standing on the side of the opposition . Our science and education is meant to glorify God and not to destroy anyone who talks about him or anything that testifies of him.

I don`t know what is your faith , your thinking or believing. One thing I know and believe is that God loves you and I. This love was expressed through the life and death of Jesus Christ .

It is written in John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Think about it ,process the information and just believe . Not believing is still your choice. No one has the right to force you into believing what you don’t want to believe.

Reasoning with God is revealed in Isaiah 1:18-19 ,it says:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.

How can one reason with God? A prayer is about you telling God your story ,requests , grievances and thanks giving . Reading and studying the bible prayersully is allowing God to speak to you through his word and spirit so that you know his will for you . The choice is yours.

Early churches VS Modern churches.

You can read for yourself the word of God or someone can read it for you if you have eye sight problem affecting your reading .Every body who believes , heard from somebody .What have you heard and what do you believe. Some people want to believe by seeing only. Have you heard about doubting Thomas ? He wanted to see in order to believe .Read John 20;29 says:

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

In this world , they say seeing is believing. Seeing is believing is a worldly proverb that reflects the reality of our society. Magicians will create illusion that can make you believe what you have seen with your own eyes.

Warning against deceptions:

Colossians 2:8 says

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

The early church was made out of believers while modern churches seem to be full of thinkers . Every Saturday and Sundays , many thousands of believers and thinkers are found in different places. Some will be at church ,work ,shopping or parties.

Believers are being called to be doers of the word.

²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Reasoning with the devil instead of God will distort your thinking ,choices and conclusion.

1Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’”

2The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’”4“You will not surely die,” the serpent told her. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Did you know that what ever God said ,the devil twisted and moved humanity from what God has planned?

Did you know? :Faith and Obedience.

Time is no more . Jesus is coming again . Don`t forget to read our main message and mission on this link : https://3amnews.org/urgent-message/

Yours , friend and brother in Christ.

God speed

Till we meet

Thinking Vs Believing: Thinkers vs Believers