Listening to one of Colin Buchanan’s album on repeat, I had these particular lines from the track, Invisible Believer, lodged in my memory – “If you know it, show it. If you get it, sweat it. If you see it, be it”. In that particular track, the song writer debunks the paradox of a believer who shows no fruit of genuine faith. In other words, there’s no such thing as an invisible believer!
The song’s punchy refrain echoes James’ admonition in the Bible, ‘But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves’. He further makes this point by describing a very relatable scenario – taking a glance in a mirror.
The parallel he draws between the ‘hearer-but-not-doer’ and the one who walks away from a mirror forgetting quickly what (s)he beheld, is striking. Surely no one spots a blemish on their face and walks away, doing nothing about it, we may be tempted to think. But if we’re honest enough, we’ll be quick to admit that that’s us on some days.
For some of us, the sheer pace of life means we don’t create the opportunity to take that allegorical look, let alone take action. Some, on the other hand, do spend time poring over biblical teachings, or have them shoved at us, depending on our spiritual ‘pedigree’; yet how much of it translate into action remains a key question. It may even be the pat we give ourselves on the back to say we’re not doing badly, afterall there’s someone we know who’s worse than we are.
Hearing the Word and not acting on it is self-deception, and that’s what James cautions against. Rather, he advocates for wisdom, i.e., knowledge applied (or knowledge matched with the right judgement as to action).
Head, heart and hands
Between hearing and doing is the unnamed discipline of meditating. It is in the process of intentionally thinking about what has been heard or read that the right response emerges. Knowledge in the head needs to filter through the heart to move our hands and feet to action on a regular basis.
The goal of all Bible study is growth in godliness. Ultimately, this growth, and in general, the Christian faith must be lived out. What’s in the head’s got to be on show.
If we’re not sweating it, then probably we’re not getting it. And if we’re not getting it, James offers an encouraging antidote – ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.’ There we have it, wisdom for the taking, or better still, the asking!
Thanks for reading!
Sike Osinuga
Hmm no such thing as an invisible believer ! On one hand it sounds jarring to read that but on the other hand every story of believers in the Bible was because they were able to ‘show’ their faith. Thanks for sharing
Indeed! Thanks for stopping by.