More video, less audio

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day;

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye is a better pupil, more willing than the ear;

Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear,

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see a good put in action is what everybody needs.  - Edgar Guest

Christians are to ‘embody’ the faith.  Our lives become the Message, or at least they should.  James urges us to make sure that our ‘faith’ has a discernable effect on the way we live.  "What’s the use of saying you have faith if you don’t prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can’t save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, “Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” I say, “I can’t see your faith if you don’t have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds.” (James 2:14-18, NLT)

It is important to query ourselves often asking, “Does my professed faith in Jesus show in my actions and attitudes?  Am I loving or hating, holding grudges or forgiving, generous or selfish?     Fairly or not, the number one criticism of Christians is that they are hypocritical.  Those outside of the Church hear lofty sentiment about love and compassion, and ask ‘where is it?’  James uses our relationship with the poor to illustrate this. In America today the Church must enter the dialogue about justice, about discrimination, about the role of power.

Real love is never simple nor cheap. It does not allow slogans to replace conversation.  The Spirit says that "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out." (1 Corinthians 13:4-6, NLT)  Think about living that way all of the time and our need for the ongoing transformative work of God’s Spirit in us becomes obvious!

Love is the core of Jesus' teaching, and yet many who claim to be His followers are carrying around terrible anger over unresolved conflicts.   How many of us, even as we say we love God and are loved by Him, at the same time, continue to harbor bitterness against a neighbor, or a family member, or a church leader? How can this be?   Can we really have experienced the reality of God's love and remain hateful?   Not according to Scripture.  "If we love our brothers, it proves that we have passed from death to eternal life. But a person who has no love is still dead. Anyone who hates another Christian is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them." (1 John 3:14-15, NLT) That hits kind of close to home, doesn't it?   Since conflict is the number one issue for most American churches, I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions about the reality of the genuineness of the spiritual experience of many who claim to be followers of Christ!    My prayer is for the Holy Spirit to help me to close the gap between my words and actions, to make my faith real and observable to those among whom I work and play; yes, a lot more video and less audio!

Let’s make faith real. Let’s commit to ‘working out our salvation’  becoming disciples of Christ in the real world, with the Spirit's help, on a daily basis. John says, "My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality." (1 John 3:18-19, The Message)     Here's a 50 cent phrase to remember -  Orthodoxy will produce orthopraxy.    In simpler terms, understanding and embracing the Truth in our mind will lead to living the Truth visibly.

So, it's Christmas.   There's a ton of sentimentality attached to this holiday.   Let me encourage you to go beyond that little tear in the corner of your eye, that catch in your throat, to do the tough work of

applying the Story to life.   If you believe that Jesus is really Emmanuel, God with us, then invite Him to live in you.    Think through what it means to embrace Him as both Savior and Lord – and let it show- for the glory of God.

_________________________

O come, O come Emmanuel

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns  in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

O come,  thou Rod of Jesse free,

Thine own from  Satan's tyranny

From depths of hell  thy people save

And give them victory  o'er the grave

O come,  thou Dayspring,  come and cheer
Our spirits by  Thine advent here;
And drive away the  shades of night,
And pierce the  clouds and bring us light.

O come,  thou Key of David, come,

And open wide  our heavenly home.

Make safe the way  that leads on high,

And close the path  to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee,  O Israel!

O Come O Come Emmanuel -Neale, John