Last week, we talked about how not everything is meant to persuade — and how lived experience should speak louder than a well-argued thesis. This week, I want to talk about credibility. Not the loud kind, but the kind that stands quietly in the corner, nodding patiently while others shout.
đź“š A Big Wake-Up Call
It wasn’t until I started reading books by actual experts — folks with track records, platinum records, publishing credits, hard-won scars — that I realized how much time I’d wasted with “conviction writers.”
You know the ones:
Confident tone.
No bibliography.
Dozens of footnotes… all pointing back to the same one book.
Big conclusions, very little evidence.
If I had a dollar for every theology or pop-psych book I read that relied on vibes over research, I’d probably never need to teach another lesson.
✝️ The “Trust Me, Bro” School of Thought
I say this with love and lived frustration: I’ve read so many Christian books that are based entirely on personal certainty, charisma, and “God told me.” And for a long time, I thought that was enough. Heck, I taught and led from that space. I believed what I was told… because the people telling me were passionate and confident.
But I’ve since learned to spot the red flags:
“The Bible is clear.” (But is it?)
“Scholars agree…” (Which ones?)
“If you just have enough faith…” (Yikes.)
When you’re in that world long enough, you start to crave proof. Not because you’re faithless — but because you’ve been burned by confidence that wasn’t backed by wisdom.
🧠“I Know” vs “I Believe”
One of the most haunting quotes I’ve ever encountered came from Carl Jung, when asked if he believed in God:
“I don’t believe. I know.”
At one point in my life, that quote fired me up. It matched the kind of certainty I wanted to live in. I used to throw around phrases like “I know this to be true” with conviction that probably scared people — and looking back, I think that kind of certainty was a crutch.
Because if I didn’t have to question…
…I didn’t have to change.
Now, I see belief as something dynamic. Flexible. Even sacred. “Knowing” is useful for math problems. “Believing” is how I approach mystery.
🌀 The Difference Between Authority and Wisdom
It’s easy to confuse credentials with credibility. But here’s what I’ve learned:
Some of the wisest people I know don’t have degrees.
Some of the loudest voices have nothing to say.
And some of the best teachers never publish a thing.
So now, when I consume information — especially about creativity, psychology, spirituality — I’m asking better questions:
What’s this person’s experience?
Who are they citing?
Who does this help?
Who does this hurt?
The answers don’t need to be perfect. But I need to know someone’s done the work.
🧠Final Thoughts
Before you build your worldview on someone else’s platform, check the foundation.
Look for nuance, not just noise.
Look for humility, not just hype.
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