"He does not believe, that does not live according to his belief."
by:
Dr. Thomas Fuller
(1608-1661) English clergyman, writer
Source:
"The Church History of Britain"
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Reader comments about this quote:
Yes and no. To remain on the right path does not always mean to never turn in the wrong direction. Is anyone completely free of hypocrisy? Does anyone never sin, err, or stumble? Paul wrote to the Romans that he sinned, even while wishing to do what is right. I will let Fuller argue with Paul.
 -- David L Rosenthal     
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     -- Me Again      
    Good point David. When I first read it, I thought, great quote. But your comment is more correct. Would that we could all live the faith we profess, but the old man raises his ugly head ... one day we will. Merry Christmas.
     -- Mike, Mount Holly, NC     
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    Perhaps the height of integrity is to live one's convictions fully which is not so easy to do, but to aspire to it is the first step.
     -- EGL, LA     
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    To live without hypocricy is a worthy goal, and the real proof of one's belief is his actions. Words cost very little and the cost is intangible. Works and actions cost in real, measurable terms.
     -- Ken, Allyn, WA     
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    Well said David.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Absolutely. This is why men who profess Christianity, but do that which is the antithesis of what Christ taught, are not Chrisitians. They can say they believe in the divinity of Christ and/or his teachings, but if they do not follow what he taught, they are not his followers. The same can be said for any religious leader. You cannot say you are a follower of a particular person and do everything against what they say-- it's a contradiction in terms. Only the man who does what he says is his own belief, code, religion, can actually be a follower of such a philosophy.
     -- Logan, Memphis, TN     
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    Too elementary, self-evident, and axiomatic to be of any value. If one does not "live according to his belief" then he does not have that believe. It is impossible to be otherwise. You act in accordance with your true beliefs or they are not your true beliefs. The hypocricy comes in when one claims to believe something ...but doesn't. That's not what the quote said. Mark Foley of Florida was like that.
     -- Jack, Green, OH     
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    If one really believed, one would live according to his belief -- because he really does believe it and would have no reason otherwise.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    That's what I said, Archer. The quote has no meaning because anything else is impossible. The quote is self-evident ...like saying money will not buy poverty, It is impossible to act against your beliefs or they are not your beliefs It is, however, not, impossible to act against what you claim you believe. Too many people do that all the time ...but the quote doesn't say that
     -- Jack, Green, OH     
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    The quote is not only a "basic truth", but also worth stating, since so many people do not live by it and yet tell others that their belief system is the one and only path to follow (while they flaunt not following it).
     -- Anonymous, Reston, VA US     
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    Giving the quote a thumbs down because it is merely self-evident seems an odd criticism. The truth does not take many words.
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    You can believe (in what?) without living by your beliefs - it happens every Sunday, and the rest of the week. Belief in yourself is the important factor not some distant heaven - we all tend to live in the future based on our beliefs and this is what's wrong in the world today - let's believe in the moment and do something about it. I agree with Jack, its a non-sequitur
     -- Robert, Sarasota     
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    i dont get what it means
     -- bob the builder, kazacstan     
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    It is best to preach what you live, least you be found to deny your own belief. The apostle Paul in Romans 7 speaks not of sinning willfully but of the sinful state of carnal man. "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal sold under sin. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am ! Who shall save me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me Free from the law of sin and death." To be spiritually minded is life and peace. Therefore we walk after the Spirit, and put no confidence in the flesh. The carnal mind is enmity against God. Socialism dwells in the flesh and results in death, whereas Liberty and Freedom are of the Spirit which gives life. Fuller's wit I find to be shallow.
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    " Let him that hath wisdom number". If you wish to know the beast, his number is 666, 6th bk, 6th chapter, 6th verse. Romans 6th bk, 6:6. " the old man" vs the "new man". The carnal man and the lust of the flesh vs the new spiritual creature in Christ which seeks after the Spirit and the fruits thereof. Death or Liberty, the choice is trust.
     -- Ronw13, Oregon     
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    Well said Logan. There are those that profess inalienable rights, liberty, the Lord's law / natural law, justice, peace and prosperity all while willingly succumbing to a slaves life - all under the facade of materialism's easiness of the way.
     -- Mike, Norwalk     
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    Well said.
     -- Tino, Dreamworld     
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    Dr Fuller seems to agree with me that there are no real christians.
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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    I doubt Dr Fuller has made such an assumption.  I have met plenty of Christians that live according to their beliefs  Orthodox Jews, Muslims, and die hard communists that live according to their beliefs, too.  But I would agree that hypocrisy is rampant  particularly among the most vocal proponents.  
     -- E Archer, NYC     
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    Sorry Mr Archer,
         With the competing forces of mendacity, honesty, self servicing,  a host of others, and the biggest force of the game, none of these claims of yours could be legitimate. Everyone is looking to be the greatest so none of the practitioners could really believe in anything other than being the greatest to ever play the game.  For the Socialist "the only winning is not to play."
     -- Fredrick William Sillik, Anytown     
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