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Difference Between Faith and Belief

At it’s most basic level faith is the result of belief. Perhaps better worded: faith springs from belief.

Belief is what you take in. Faith is what you do with that input. Information collected and then acted upon.

For example, Let’s take faith in the Dallas Cowboys. (Since I used the Tennessee Volunteers Football last time).

Belief

Someone who believes in the Dallas Cowboys will watch the Dallas Cowboy games. I real believer will then watch the after-game report and pre-game. Then if they continue in their belief they might begin to read news stories. Eventually, they might even begin to seek out new information searching forums and watching practices.

All of this is under the category of belief or seeking more input.

Faith 

The output or faith part might begin by purchasing some Cowboys paraphernalia. Then starting to involve your family in the games. You might even start to evangelize for the Cowboys, arguing with non-fans at work. Then you might start to host parties at your house to watch the Cowboys, gathering together with others to enjoy your shared belief. Finally, you may even get to attend a game or attend multiple games, and tthen season tickets while moving to better and more expensive seats.

All of this is under the category of faith or acting on your beliefs. In this case, your belief in the Dallas Cowboys.

What is your faith?

Now, look at your life. What is your faith in? It may be multiple things and those things may have shifted over-time, but I am willing to bet your highest priority faith may not be in what you say it is.

• Is your faith in hard work or family?
• Is your faith in a Sports Team?
• Is your faith in a religion/spirituality/teacher?
• Is your faith in an economic system, political party, or government?

I am not here to judge what you believe or act. I want you to identify what is defining you. When you have your faith, the most important action you take in your life, write it down in a sentence. 

Jesus of Nazareth, whom I call Christ, spoke more about money than any other subject. He knew that to understand your faith you follow the money. So, if you are having trouble figuring out your faith, follow the money. Where does it go? Then ask why it goes there? The answer to one or both of those questions is usually very close to what you actually believe because that’s the faith you are acting out.

Shaping

Now that you have determined what our faith is let’s look at how it shapes us.

When we act on our faith what we most often get in return is more belief. This creates a cycle in which acting on our faith feeds into belief which feeds you which generates more faith.

The cycle of belief and faith alters you. Eventually, your belief and faith cost you something, usually time or money. Then they cost you more and more. In our Dallas Cowboys example above you can see how there was an escalating existence. When belief and faith escalate, they change your shape.

You might go from a relatively well-rounded innocuous individual to someone with some edges. Those edges might not fit into your next career option. For example, a faithful Cowboy might become a square. Unfortunately, the next position up in the career chain might require a triangle-shaped faithful Eagle (because you might live in Philly). What this means is that you begin to seek out jobs and roles that allow you to succeed as a Cowboy Square. 

Incompatible Beliefs

While all this might seem quite silly, there are not many faithfully practicing Christians or Muslims living the, perhaps ill-represented, boozy, promiscuous, greedy lifestyle of Wall Street. Their belief and faith don’t permit those roles. Likewise, an LGBTQIA+ activist individual might not work for hard right-wing Christians.

Our faiths are often incompatible.

It is vital to understand our faith(s) for our careers. What do you believe in? How far are you willing to go? 

If your faith is in the Cowboys you might do anything to support, evangelize for, or work for to see that team succeed. Imagine, you get the chance to broker a deal to get the Cowboys a star player for cheaper than asking. What would you do to get that player for the Cowboys? 

Is there anything you wouldn’t do? 

You need to know your faith. Share on X

The Shape your Belief and Faith Take

Christian Theologian A.W. Tozer once said, “the most important thing a man ever thinks is what he thinks about when he thinks about God.”

Who is your God?

Money, Capitalism, family, a sports team, God, Allah?

You need to know what you believe in because your beliefs and faith are shaping you.

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates Share on X

Unlocking this is a powerful career tool. You know where to get hired, what jobs you can excel in, and how much time and effort to put into the work part of fatherhood.

Fatherhood

That’s right this whole thing circles back to fatherhood because your faith shapes your family too. Activating your faith is key to succeeding and engaging as a father. Next week check back in to understand the role our fatherhood plays in our career and dive deeper into the faith of fatherhood.

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