A tough Epistle and Gospel reading this morning; both seeking to tell us what to do and how to do it. They are the sort of readings that might make some of us rebel, especially those of us that don’t like being told exactly what to do or believe. These readings are a bit like a stern parent saying:

“Just do as I tell you!” When what we might want to say is; ‘Why?’ 

‘Why?’ is a good question. These two readings, however,  are just gob-bits from larger texts of the Bible and we really can’t take them as they are without trying to see them in context. The context from which they come and were written in. In the Epistle of James the author is at great pains to point out that we cannot be passive receivers of God’s word:

“22 … be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.”             James 1:22-25

Be doers of God’s word NOT just listeners. I know that some  have problems with this epistle as it can at times seem to contradict the concept of ‘Justification by faith alone’. Personally, I have never been able to comprehend that doctrine for unless our faith acts as a basis for our actions towards others then what do we mean by living our faith? I cannot see that faith alone is enough, for that means you can say that you believe something and then ignore the needs of those around you and fail to live by the ways of God. You then, I think, become simply a hearer of his words and not a doer. Faith for me is something one lives, and lives out in practical and humanitarian ways; helping others as you follow the ways of God. So the command to be a doer as well as a hearer of the Word of God speaks more deeply to me than simply the command to hear God’s word. This theme is picked up in Mark’s Gospel account where he says:

“This people honours me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.”             Mark 7:6

It is very easy to; ‘talk the talk’ but a lot harder to live the talk. God is aware of this but we are encouraged to try and live his ways and to do so in non showy or ostentatious fashion. We are called to do what God expects of us quietly and naturally, day by day, helping and encouraging others gently along the way. Our faith is shown by the example we set. Our faith has repeatedly changed the world in the past and can do so again today and in the future. What we need to do is to live an active faith and not just a lip-service faith. What small step could you take to put your faith into action? You might give a donation to a charity or volunteer to do something to help others. Whatever you do live your faith and never be just a hearer but a doer as well.