My Hyundai Sonata just turned 13 years old last month and still looks and runs fabulously…except for the headlights! They’ve never worked all that well and lately, the light they give off has been almost non-existent. So, I finally took it to a local mechanic, and learned a lesson (about headlights and discipleship)!
After the car had been in for a few minutes, I asked the owner, Thom, if they were making progress. He replied, “O yes. The bulbs weren’t in the right position to bounce the light off the reflectors properly.” At this point, we could have had this conversation:
- Me: Of course! I understand that well. I’m a math guy. The reflectors are parabolic, and the bulb must be at the focus of the parabola in order for the light beams to be reflected parallel to each other.
- Thom: You may understand the mathematics, but that understanding didn’t help you install them correctly, did it? My guy Ben probably doesn’t know anything about parabolas, but he does know how to put in headlight bulbs!
In some of our Christian traditions, we are happy if people know the details of some theological concepts. God is more interested in our putting the Word into practice. I heard a pastor say once, “I have people who can parse the Greek and the Hebrew, but they are useless in doing anything for the Kingdom.” Knowledge is good, but skilled application is better!
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1.22, NIV)
“As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. (Ezekiel 33.30 – 32, NIV, emphasis mine)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5.16, NIV) The pastor I quoted above points out that this text says, “See your good deeds” not “Hear your good words.”
This reminds me, too, of the Jan 4 post about DOING vs. BEING. I won’t discount either. KNOWING has its value, too. I think we run into difficulty when we diminish the value of any of these. I like HEAD, HANDS and HEART.
I’d agree, though, that we are too (more?) often guilty of lack of follow through and keeping our word. However, I sense there’s a deficit of truth and identity that leads to the lack of doing. So which is the problem: be, know, or do?