Which Speaks Louder, Doing or Being?

I have often discussed with new pastors the importance of being, not just doing. I usually point to the picture of the vine and branches which Jesus discusses with his disciples in John 15. Jesus seems to say that fruit comes as a result of connection to the source. When we are connected with Jesus (abiding in the vine,) we bear fruit (Jesus fruit -- that is, we begin to look like Jesus.) Today, I was reading in The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard and came across this passage:

But the question is, How can one keep the law? Jesus well knew the answer to this question, and that is why he told those who wanted to know how to work the works of God to put their confidence in the one God had sent (John 6:29). He knew that we cannot keep the law by trying to keep the law. To succeed in keeping the law one must aim at something other and something more. One must aim to become the kind of person from whom the deeds of the law naturally flow. The apple tree naturally and easily produces apples because of its inner nature. This is the most crucial thing to remember if we would understand Jesus' picture of the kingdom heart given in the Sermon on the Mount. 

And here also lies the fundamental mistake of the scribe and the Pharisee. They focus on the actions that the law requires and make elaborate specifications of exactly what those actions are and of the manner in which they are to be done. They also generate immense social pressure to force conformity of action to the law as they interpret int. They are intensely self-conscious about doing the right thing and about being thought to have done the right thing. 

But the inner dimensions of their personality, their heart and character, are left to remain contrary to what God has required. That heart will, of course, ultimately triumph over their conscious intentions and arrangements, and they will in fact do what they know to be wrong. Their words, especially, will reveal the contents of their heart (Matt. 12:34). And their need to appear righteous "before men" (Luke 15:15) the forces them into hypocrisy. Hypocrisy becomes the spirit, or "yeast," that pervades and colors their entire existence. (pages 142-143)

Of course, Willard is discussing the impossibility of trust trying to be obedient to the demands of the law especially as presented by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. That is, it is impossible for us to just perform the actions. We must be transformed. We must become like Jesus; our heart must be changed.

This change will not happen without the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. All of us who believe have the presence of the Holy Spirit, but do we allow him to transform us? Part of this permission to the Holy Spirit involves our connection to Jesus. If we would be transformed to be like him, then we must abide -- spend time with -- immerse ourselves in his presence. "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4). He goes on in verse 5 to say, "apart from me you can do nothing."

Actions are important! I can't count the times that I have been told, "Actions speak louder than words." Certainly I have repeated that to my children. And, this is true. But, if we are just trying to "do it," we are bound to fail. If we are to stay true to our word, we must not just "do it," but "be it."

Once again it is Palm Sunday -- Easter here we come!

I must admit that I really look forward to Holy Week. It is exciting! It is the high point of the Church Year. Palm Sunday is the celebration of King Jesus returning to his capitol ready to reclaim the kingdom. He enters His Temple and establishes his authority. It is then on to the glory of his Resurrection! Jesus lives. He has defeated sin and death. Victory in Jesus! Oh wait -- did I forget something. Oh, that's right, I forgot Good Friday and the cross! How could I do that? I know that Jesus died for me, but, it is so exciting to see his glory and the great victory!

Of course, I'm kidding! Right? Well, yes and no. All of us who are believers realize that the cross of Christ is central to our belief. It is central indeed to our salvation. But, it really is all too easy in our celebrations during Holy week to skip from Palm Sunday to Easter with not much mention of Good Friday. When I was much younger, there were community celebrations of good Friday. There would be services running from noon until 3:00 in the afternoon where the cross was central. Now, these kind of services are rarely seen -- the world and our culture has changed. Some churches have Good Friday Services, but much of the time, they are poorly attended. Many of the liturgical churches try to deal with this by designating this Sunday, Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday.

My text for Sunday's sermon is 1 John 5:1-12, with verses 3b-5 somewhat problematic:

And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Why are these verses problematic? It seems like they are great promises -- and they are!  I also certainly believe that they are true, but here is where they become problematic -- what is meant by overcoming the world. I think that sometimes we become enamored with a triumphalism that neglects the cross. We just see one degree of glory following another. "Just have faith brother -- after all our faith will conquer the world." We forget that the glory of the resurrection only takes place after the humiliation and suffering of the cross.

A second problem is the tendency to see this as some kind of temporal power over our society and culture. I think that this is especially true here in America. We don't understand why it seems like Jesus is losing. "We no longer pray in school. We don't celebrate Christ in Christmas. Now the gays want to have the opportunity to marry!" The complaints go on and on. It sure doesn't seem like we are overcoming the world -- we pray -- and there is one defeat after another. Is this promise true?

This great promise was written when Christians were a very small minority in a pagan culture. Certainly Christianity was not respected or honored, yet John says that we will overcome the world. I think that he is saying that we overcome by not being conformed to the model of this world. We can be transformed and live victorious lives. Remember Jesus lived a victorious life. He was not just victorious on Palm Sunday and Easter. He was victorious on Good Friday. Perhaps that was his greatest victory.