Doer Of The Word

James 1:22-24 (NKJV)
22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

The word doer means to "practice habitually." Think about it. All the sermons we've heard. All the Bible teaching we've heard. All the Bible we've read and studied on our own. All the Bible studies and workbooks we have gone through. All the Christian radio and television that has gained our attention. All the Christian books we have read. And I ask the question, "Are we doers of the word? Do we practice those truths habitually?"

There is so much Bible truth not lived out. Bible truth conveniently forgotten when it is not convenient to live out the truth. Compromise in the church often trumps commitment. Our great God has given us principles and commandments to work out in this laboratory we call life. Things like how to build a strong health marriage, how to raise children, how to manage finances, how to make decisions, how to overcome adversity, how to endure suffering, how to relate to others, how to pray, how to share Jesus with others, how to overcome anxiety and so much more.

Even among faithful congregational members the Bible truth is not always lived out. You could sit in a worship gathering and hear a great message shouting amen in agreement all along the way but, that does not ensure you will live out that truth once you leave. Herein lies one of the great problems in the United States church. Fewer and fewer people live out the Bible truth they hear so often. People hear but they do not always do.

For example, how important is holiness in the American church and in our lives? God is holy. He requires His followers to live holy lives. Hypocrisy still abounds. Hearers of the word do not always translate into doers of the word. What about tithing? I recently talked to a pastor of a large church. They require two worship services to accommodate the crowd. The early service is the larger of the two services. Over 80% of the offerings received comes from the second and much smaller second service. How can that be? The first service pushes 1,000 in attendance.

Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations [Matt 28:19-20]. Nine out of ten people have never witnessed and shared the gospel of Jesus with one person in their lives. Nine out of ten! Faithful pastors have preached, taught, organized and exhorted parishioners to evangelize. Members hear the truth but they do not live out the truth.

Churches split rather than working through strife. We throw money at problems like the homeless,  addicts, abused and those forgotten in retirement and rehabilitation centers. Do we actually get involved on personal levels? This is the messy side of ministry. This stretches us way beyond our comfort zones. This is nitty gritty ministry. Didn't Jesus command us to minister to the least of these?Pastors and churches all fight over the scraps of the well to do and successful people while the down and out are ignored and shunned. So much hearing and so very little doing.

Let's face it. To live out Bible truth in this culture means we will find ourselves clashing with cultural values, morality and agendas. It takes committed followers of Jesus to live out His truth. It takes courage to live out His truth. All around the world there are scores and scores of Jesus followers who willingly do this at great peril. They live out Bible truth fearlessly. They stand steadfastly for Jesus in the midst of hostility. How are American Christians not shamed in comparison?

We have a choice to make. Will we be Bible hearers for the rest of our days? Will we by the power of the Holy Spirit actually live out habitually and practice the very truth we hear? Will we be doers of the word? In light of eternity that choice should be an easy one.