Reversing James 1:22

It has been the subject of countless sermons and devotionals. It is simple in its wording, but profound in its meaning. It is James 1:22, where the half-brother of our Lord wrote, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

I do not want to detract from that verse one bit, but I want to suggest that we are living in times where we might be seeing the reverse of James 1:22 be the problem. We have a generation among us now who–rightly or wrongly–believe that the older generations have not been living out their faith. This younger generation is tired of meeting in church buildings and talking about reaching the world, but then not actually doing so, at least not consistently.

So, many in this generation are boldly stepping out and doing some amazing things. It is often breathtaking to consider the work that many in their teens and twenties are doing in the name of faith, and the places they are willing to go to help others.

However, too many of these workers are also basically saying that we need to be doers of the word and not hearers. In other words, they do not care about doctrine–even basic tenets of the faith–at all. So long as we are serving our fellow man in the name of Christ, He is pleased.

Certainly, we need to be serving our fellow man. The reaction of this generation is, in many ways, right. Christians have a tendency to get a bit too comfortable with just being around other Christians and never going where the true needs of lost people are. We need to be willing to learn from the example of this generation in that way.

But, there is another side to this. There is a key word from the words of James that this generation needs to keep in mind. Read the verse again, only this time one word will be emphasized: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

What is James saying? Is he only writing that we need to do the work that God has called His people to? While working is the major thrust of the verse, there is still hearing involved. There is still a doctrine to be held to and taught (cf. Jude 3). We cannot just do and teach anything we might like and be pleasing to the Lord.

The key is balance. Do we need to work more–and in more difficult places–in the name of our Lord God? There can be no doubt. But there is also a set of teachings that cannot be ignored. This should be a chance to avoid a generational clash; it should be an opportunity to learn more deeply and get about doing all the good we can.

Think of how the world will be changed when we get the hearing and the doing right!

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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn

Photo background credit: Dean Hochman on Creative Commons