“Christianity is not about what you believe, its about how you live your life” This type of thinking is very popular among Christians today. Yet as popular as it is, it is fundamentally wrong. It is serious error for at least two reasons.

1) It is a false dichotomy

To argue works over doctrine or action over and against beliefs is to force a wedge between that which Scripture unites. The Apostle James was clear that faith and works go hand in hand. Good works is the biblical outworking of a true faith which rests in the grace of God alone.

 2) The Christian life is built upon the solid of foundation of the doctrine of Christ

A person who tries to build the Christian life on a philosophy like the one quoted above is headed for sure trouble. Christianity is primarily about ‘what you believe’ because Christianity is primarily about ‘the truth’. Christianity is primarily about ‘the truth’ because Christianity is about what God has spoken. What God has spoken is truth.

Jesus says, in John 17:17: 

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Check out the following scriptures.

I Tim. 1:6-11 Certain persons by swerving from these have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions. Now we know that the law is good, if any one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, immoral persons, sodomites, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

1 Tim 4:6 If you put these instructions before the brethren, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the good doctrine which you have followed.

Titus 1:15-2:2 To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their deeds; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good deed. But as for you, teach what befits sound doctrine. Bid the older men be temperate, serious, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

1 Tim. 6: 3-5 If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

2 Tim. 1:13, 14 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

2 Tim. 4:3, 4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.

Titus 2:7, 8 Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.

Titus 2:7, 8 Show yourself in all respects a model of good deeds, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.