303\/765-3183
\ne-mail:
\nttroeger@iliff.edu<\/a>
\nFAX 303\/777-0164<\/p>\n
Which comes first: Belief or action?<\/p>\n
Changing the heart or changing behavior?<\/p>\n
A lot of our prayers and rituals put the heart first: „Create in me a clean heart and put a new and right spirit within me.“<\/p>\n
It is a prayer we all need to pray.
\nFor sometimes, it is the heart that needs to change first.<\/p>\n
We believe in Jesus and our belief changes how we act.<\/p>\n
I have seen this happen in people.
\nThey have – to use their own words – „found the Lord,“ and the Lord has transformed their lives.
\nGrace and compassion have flowed from their new hearts.<\/p>\n
Sometimes belief comes first.<\/p>\n
Sometimes a new heart comes first.<\/p>\n
But not always!<\/p>\n
There are other times when the process works in reverse.
\nAction transforms the heart.
\nBehavior reshapes our character.<\/p>\n
The disciples report to Jesus:
\n„‚Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.'“
\nEvidently the man was using Jesus‘ name without making a commitment to Jesus.<\/p>\n
The man’s action may reflect an ancient pagan custom: magicians used a revered name as a talisman, something possessing secret power.
\nThey invoked the name purely for the effect it might produce but without holding any sense of worship or honor for the name.
\nTheir belief did not match their action.<\/p>\n
Jesus responds to his disciples‘ concern:
\n„‚Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.'“<\/p>\n
Doing an act of love can create a heart of love.<\/p>\n
Behavior can transform character.<\/p>\n
I think of times when I have gone to worship and acted in the name of Jesus though my faith was wavering and my heart was far from the gospel.
\nI mechanically went through the rituals.
\nI bowed.
\nI knelt.
\nI made the sign of the cross.
\nI received the sacrament.
\nI prayed in the name of Jesus.
\nAnd then to my utter surprise, I found faith in my heart where there had been none.
\nI found grace in my soul where there had been none.
\nThe action had transformed me.<\/p>\n
I have seen this process not only in worship.
\nI have seen it in people who decided to work toward reconciliation when they did not feel like being reconciled.
\nI have seen it in people who showed compassion out of a sense of duty, not a spontaneous desire in their hearts.
\nAnd when they acted, they were transformed.
\nThey became people with reconciling hearts.
\nThey became people with compassionate hearts.<\/p>\n
In American culture we often hear „Do what you feel. Be genuine. Don’t be a hypocrite.“
\nBut sometimes we need to do the exact opposite.
\nWhen we do not feel like worshiping is when we need to worship.
\nWhen faith is far from our hearts, we need to act as if we were filled with it.<\/p>\n
We need a healthy hypocrisy: doing what is good and right and beautiful even though it is not what we feel.
\nBecause if we do something good in the name of Jesus, in the spirit of his compassion and justice, then we will soon find ourselves unable to speak evil of Christ.
\nWe will find our hearts reshaped by our action.<\/p>\n
Do not wait until your faith is perfect and full.
\nAct now for Jesus, and Jesus will do astounding things to who you are.<\/p>\n
Thomas H. Troeger
\nPeck Professor of Preaching &
\nCommunications
\nDirector of the Doctor of Ministry Program
\nIliff School of
\nTheology
\n2201 South University Boulevard
\nDenver, Colorado
\n80210<\/b><\/p>\n
303\/765-3183
\ne-mail:
\nttroeger@iliff.edu<\/a>
\nFAX 303\/777-0164<\/p>\n