Walking the Talk

One of the great issues that has troubled followers of all the worlds religions, and people who follow none, is the all too common failure of people to "walk the talk." A friend once told me she thought Christians were their own worst enemies because so many of them seemed to be religious on Sunday and then the rest of the week failed to practice the teachings they said they believed. I think people of all faiths have that problem, and today's reading from the New Testament, from a letter by James, who may have been one of the twelve apostles and/or a brother of Jesus, addresses the importance of walking the talk in clear, strong language.

Be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

For if you are a hearer of the Word and not a doer, it is like looking at yourself in a mirror,

and then going away and promptly forgetting what you looked like.

But if you persevere, being not a hearer who forgets, but a doer who acts,

you shall be blessed in your doing.

If you think you are religious, but do not bridle your tongue,

you deceive your self, and your religion is in vain.

Pure religion that is undefiled before God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction,

and to keep yourself unstained by worldly values.

What does it profit you to say you have faith if you do not live it? Can your faith save you?

If someone needs food or clothes and you say, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things they need, what profit is that? Faith without works is dead.

Let not many of you become teachers, for you know that we who teach shall be held to a higher standard.

For we all make many mistakes.

If you make no mistake in what you say, you are a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.

If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies.

Look at the ships also. Though they are so great and are driven by strong winds,

they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.

So the tongue is a little member, but boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire.

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed,

but no human being can tame the tongue, which is restless, and can be full of deadly poison.

With it we bless God, and curse people, who are made in the likeness of God.

From the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. This ought not to be so.

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish?

Who is wise and understanding among you?

By your good life and works let your wisdom be shown.

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, there will be disorder and all kinds of vile practices.

The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without wavering or insincerity.

And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

My prayer of response:

Good God! Help me to use my tongue to praise you and bring help, wisdom, and comfort to others. Keep me from using it to talk negatively about people, or to pontificate about my own opinions.

May a see where I am failing to walk the talk when I ponder Your Words, and correct myself accordingly.

Help me to live with integrity, doing my best every day to live the way I pray and act

in harmony with Your good will to all.

Grant me Your peaceable, pure, gentle, merciful, and reasonable Wisdom

so that I may be a peace maker, and reap the harvest of Your goodness. Amen.