During my teenage years when getting off the phone with my mother’s father he would always say, “Be good and do good.” Looking back years later, I find it interesting that in this grammatically incorrect sentence my grandfather spoke to both my ontological presence and my actions. From his statement it seems as if the two are intertwined; one cannot be good without doing good. It seems to me that this statement agrees with the words of Jesus, “out of a person’s mouth does the heart speak.” The being, the heart of a person always shows itself. In the same way, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” There is something about the material world that indicates even those things that we cannot see.
Brother James packs a lot into these few verses, but the essence of this text is about doing. The idea that seems most appropriate here is relevant in terms of living faith. Faith is certainly more than belief and participating in religious ceremonies that help to continue our human institutions. Faith, relevant living faith, requires us to do good. Mentioned at the end of this passage is the care of orphans and widows, this is the measurement of faith. I’m not arguing with the text but I’d like to expand it just a little. Orphans and widows should be on the list but maybe also the mentally ill, the differently abled, chronically ill and perhaps even the poor and homeless. The measure of religion, of a faith that cannot be seen, is quantified by what is seen.
I imagine there are more than a few people who would say that you couldn’t measure faith. And maybe this would be true if all it took to have faith was belief. But faith is more; it requires action much like my grandfather’s statement, “be good and do good.” James puts it another way, “Do not just be listeners but doers of the word.”
21st century church leadership is not just about belief, correct doctrine, but it is about relevant living faith. Action plus belief that helps to transform a world whose actions tell day in and day out where its faith resides. Our hearts “go out” to those persons mentioned above who fall into a relatively defenseless class, but what are we doing?
In closing there is a story of a young minister returned to his church after taking a group of kids on a college tour. He returned to the church in the middle of night because there were a few mishaps on the ride home. Upon arriving at the church, he noticed a man sleeping under the awning at the main entrance. He walked past, hoping not to disturb the sleeping man. He thought, “There is something wrong with this picture. This building is empty, but this man sleeps on the concrete on the doorstep of the church.” How many people sleep on our doorsteps while people of “faith” walk by trying not to disturb? We pat ourselves on the back, noting we have not disturbed them and stating, “At least they can stay dry”. Is this admirable? I’m not sure. It seems like listening and not doing to me. Be good and do good.
— The Rev. Joseph T. T. Tribble is the youth and young adult pastor at Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church in Nashville, and professor of Religion at American Baptist College.
The Transformation Blog 