Perhaps right from the beginning the enemy of action has been words. Making promises, and claims, and reaping the rewards before the actual work is ever done. Using one’s reputation as collateral for immediate gratification. Jesus warned us about the babbling pagans in Matthew 6. Did we listen?
It seems in a lot of life’s arenas talk gets most of the attention. Saying we’re going to do something results in rousing applause, pats on the back, big smiles, and “isn’t she a great person” thoughts. Then when the time comes to make good on those words. Well, how often is anyone really looking?
I met a guy a few years ago that admitted that he had opted for bankruptcy. It just made more sense for him to kill his credit score since really the loan agents didn’t care that much about credit scores anyway. A low credit score was an excuse to charge a bit of extra interest but in light of all this man owed it was worth the trade. Now we all know how that practice turned out for banks.
So what is the credit reporting agency for people’s promises? Especially our larger-than-life all-star celebrity religious leaders. Who is checking their credibility? Well, everyone assumes someone must be… which is what many folks do with the email they forward too.
The church has created a talk:action credit bubble. It has become so inflated that the idea that anyone would actually check anyone else’s claims is seen as a lack of faith right from the beginning. Words have trumped action and left a disconnect that could (and likely will) lead our nation to spiritual bankruptcy. There are plenty of loan agents running all around grabbing all the loans and commissions they can while they can. I suggest you be wiser. Talk is CHEAP!
The ability to say words with confidence and presumption does not equate to faith. Multiplying poetic language does not equate to spiritual superiority. The ability to sing is not a window to a pure soul. Remember, lucifer probably sang pretty well. The church should not be led by hearers or speakers of the word, but firstly doers. (Matthew 7, James 1:22). Therefore an audit is in order. Everyone who has read this, take an audit of all of the ambitious claims you’ve heard and note the people who actually made good on them. Consider yourself, do you say what you know people want to hear, or do you speak the truth in all circumstances. I suggest you will not likely be very popular if you are the latter. In fact the Bible warns of this in 2 Timothy 4:
” 1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
If you do decide to perform this audit, it should be done as privately as you would manage your own finances. If you recognize inpropriety you should quietly take your investment elsewhere. Psalm 37:7.