An action-oriented faith for emotions-oriented people …

Have you ever noticed how often we talk about how we feel?

It’s not as often that you hear someone say, “I think …” Instead, we usually hear someone say (or say ourselves), “I feel …” Even when we say, “I think …” what usually follows is a description of what we’re feeling, not what we’re thinking.

That’s because in our culture, people are addicted to emotions.

That doesn’t always sync easily with the Christian faith, which is much more of an action-oriented spiritual vocation. Yes, we hear a lot today about finding our rest in Christ, and the work that our Lord has done for us (and it most certainly is true that there is nothing we can do to earn our salvation), but being a follower of Jesus Christ is steeped more in what we do than in entertaining a perpetual set of emotions. In fact, our emotions are often connected to our actions.

I came across this story from an unstated source that may help us understand the value of an action-oriented faith …

When Mother Teresa visited Australia, a new recruit to the monastery there was assigned to be her guide and “gofer” during her stay. The young man was thrilled and excited at the prospect of being so close to this woman. He dreamed of how much he would learn from her and the things they would talk about. But during her visit, he became frustrated. Although he was constantly near her, he never had the opportunity to say one word to Mother Teresa. There were always other people for her to meet. Finally, her tour was over, and she was due to fly to New Guinea. In desperation, the novice friar had his opportunity to speak to Mother Teresa. He said to her, “If I pay my own fare to New Guinea, can I sit next to you on the plane so I can talk to you and learn from you?”

Mother Teresa looked at him.

“You have enough money to pay airfare to New Guinea?” she asked.

“Oh, yes,” he replied eagerly.

“Then give that money to the poor,” she said. “You’ll learn more from that than anything I can tell you.”

The problem was the young man wanted to experience a feeling when he needed to simply learn by doing.

There are times when experiencing our faith best calls for being still, and even for being steeped in emotion. For example, when Mary sat at the feet of Jesus while Martha fussed in the kitchen (Lk. 10:38-42), or when Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with very expensive perfume (Jn. 12:3). But we more often see a real life of faith described in the New Testament as one being called to action.

In a story somewhat similar to that of the friar and famous nun above, Jesus has a conversation with a fellow we often refer to as the “rich young ruler” in Matthew 19:16-22. The answer Jesus gives this man is strikingly similar to what Mother Theresa told the monastery novice: “Jesus told him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me,'” Matthew 19:21.

Jesus’ most poignant descriptions of followership are not pictures of enjoying pleasant emotions, but that of taking dramatic action. For example …

” Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it,'” Luke 9:23-24.

“When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, ‘Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.’ Another of his disciples said, ‘Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.’ But Jesus told him, ‘Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead,'” Matthew 8:18-22.

The New Testament is stuffed with action-oriented instructions for the Christian, from things to “throw off” or “put on,” even to our Lord’s final words before ascending to heaven as He gives us the commission for His church of “GO make disciples …”

Emotions come with relationship, and the things we do because of relationship. Action is a practical experience of being in relationship …

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves,” James 1:22.

J. Kirk Johnston inserted this Civil War snippet in Why Christians Sin …

When George B. McClellan was commissioned Major General of the Army, he wrote his wife, “I don’t feel any different than I did yesterday. Indeed, I have not yet put on my new uniform. I am sure that I am in command of the Union Army, however, because President Lincoln’s order to that effect now lies before me.”

McClellan may have had his commission papers, but he failed to act as commander of the Union Army. Time after time, he refused to engage the Confederate foe. While he was good at hosting and dancing at parties for his officers and others, and he enjoyed the trappings of his position, he failed to act as an Army commander. That meant he failed in his position, and in his relationship to his President and nation. The papers McClellan had on his desk needed action to give them meaning.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ needs action — responding to the Lord, and obeying the Lord — to give our relationship with Him real meaning, a deep meaning that will stir us with great emotion!

Are you acting out your faith? Or are you searching for a feeling?

Scotty