Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
-James 4:13-15
I hope this post finds you well. My last “Devotional Thought” post had to do with the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew, two stories from Luke, and Exodus 16, all demonstrating dependence upon Yahweh. Today I would like to further that motif, reflecting on my intentions of this blog as stated in my first entry, focusing on the use of language and actions. In my first entry to this blog I wrote to constructing new realities, and this is not the first reference of the use of language for building such constructs.
Here in Mexico you cannot finish a conversation without hearing the phrase: “Si Dios permite (If God permits/allows/wills).” Not only can you not finish a conversation without hearing it, you will often have it tagged onto something you just said (evidently you forgot to say it). “Latins speak the lingo,” as a once Latin American missionary once told me.
Most here are nominal Catholics; having only attended catechism as a child. Their nationality informs their religious affiliation, i.e.: I am Mexican, therefore I am Catholic. Catholicism here, is unlike that in the States, it is rote, uninformed, socially irresponsible, oppressive, and for the most part still functions as pre-Vatican II (these observances are my own and of my acquaintances here). Of course not all Mexicans are Catholic and being Catholic is not a prerequisite for using the above discussed phrase. The legitimacy of the statement, of course depends upon the faith of the speaker.
There are two polarities here that I sense: one with people believing and not speaking/doing, and one with people speaking/doing that which they do not believe in- something that is inherent in their culture, nothing more.
A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not.” But later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I will, sir.” But he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?
-Matthew 21:28-32
Which behavior was more shunned by Jesus? Which one was upheld? Saying the right things or doing the right things? Orthodoxy vs. Orthopraxy. Obviously, though both inconsistent, Jesus preferred the one that repented from his prior statement over the one that used language of respect, yet did not fulfill his word. I propose that we should strive to overcome this dichotomy of orthodoxy and orthopraxy, of believing the right things and doing the right things. One should inform the other. Out of our beliefs should spring forward ethics. Let what we believe inform how we act and vice versa.
It is certain, a lot of people have not formulated their own formal theology, thus a number of people resort to, “We just have to trust our LORD, and know that we’ll never know it all.” I contend that we can attain higher knowledge of Yahweh and the Holy One’s will (for this perspective see especially Proverbs 1-9). Why is it that we often have to ask ourselves, “Why did I just do that?” or come to find out through someone close to us that our actions are incompatible with our faith. What we do shows what we believe, essentially they are inseparable. This is where many people would just assume omit benevolent acts and speech altogether or omit proclaiming their beliefs, for fear of being labeled a hypocrite.
Saint Jerome spoke of the believer as the one in whom the heart, the feet and the mouth all agree.
This should remain true for us today. This is something that we must exert much effort to attain. Yet, the apex, eventual outcome, or those who have progressed more should not hold those still in the journey/process hostage. Just because one has yet to bring their being, holistically speaking, under one’s set principles should not hinder them in trying. We should refrain from labeling a person a hypocrite, simply because his/her actions are incompatible with that which they express with their mouth. Social psychologists teach us that the use of language can and often does influence our behavior. Therefore it should be in our interest to rally each other on in both words and deeds.
How can we begin to synthesize all of these different thoughts, attitudes, and beliefs we have, let alone conduct our entire body in accordance with the principles that we esteem so highly?
Might this be were the person that says “Si Dios permite (If it’s God’s will), is on the right track- regardless of their innermost beliefs? It starts with just words of acknowledgement. . .words that create realities. After all, before Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, was granted access to the community of the redeemed he confessed Yahweh above all other gods (Exodus 18:11) with his mouth. And is it not true that Christians before they start on their new path in life confess Jesus as Lord with their mouth? Let our confessions be continual (Hebrews 13:15-16), enacting better realities, informing our actions, eternally enthroning Yahweh.
In the last post in this series, the focus was upon giving Yahweh the credit, and depending upon our Creator. In looking at the language involved in doing that, it should inform our everyday ethics, not just be a rote ritualistic practice of saying “grace” before every meal, but placing one’s existence in the palm of the Holy One, humbling oneself, and mirroring the Sustainer of Life’s foundation (Isaiah 16:5) and will with that of our own. Our God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24), let us dismantle our storehouses. Let us no longer go it alone.
As Jesus insinuated in the passage in Matthew, as much as they can shape our realities, words are never enough- we cannot just proclaim Jesus as our Lord, Yahweh our life provider and sustainer, we cannot just speak out against the injustices done to our neighbors, we must act in accordance with those beliefs, with conviction.
Yahweh, help us to align our actions with your will. Help us to act with integrity. If we claim you as our God, we need to act like it. Give us the language of submission. Help us to compose sonnets, poems, and exhortations in your honor. Reveal the gifts that you have so graciously bestowed upon us, so that we might use them to Your glory. Allow us to sing, dance, and act to demonstrate the fullness of life that is available through You. Bring us into contact with those that have yet to become integrated with an Exodus community so that they might see the marvelous works You have done, and that we all might proclaim You God of gods. Remind us to continually rejoice in our deliverance and continually confess You as our God and Savior and Your Will: Justice and Righteousness.
To acting with integrity,
Amen.
–MLW
Micah 6:6-8
