Living Our Faith: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

In the beloved comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, young Calvin asks his stuffed tiger friend a profound question: “Do you think our morality is defined by our actions or what’s in our hearts?” Hobbes wisely replies, “I think our actions show what’s in our hearts.” This simple exchange captures a fundamental truth about faith and authenticity that resonates deeply with spiritual teachings.

Our actions, like light through a projector, reveal the true state of our hearts. Just as a slide projector transforms tiny, seemingly insignificant film negatives into vivid images on a screen, our deeds magnify and display the contents of our innermost selves. This metaphor invites us to consider: What image are we projecting to the world through our actions?

The Gospel of John offers a powerful perspective on this idea: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” (John 3:19-21).

This passage challenges us to examine our lives honestly. Are we living in the light, allowing our actions to reflect a genuine relationship with God? Or are we hiding in darkness, afraid to let our true selves be seen?

The dissonance between our inner feelings and outward actions is humorously illustrated in another Calvin and Hobbes strip. Calvin, harboring a secret crush on classmate Susie, expresses his affection through a contradictory valentine and wilted flowers. This childish behavior mirrors our own adult tendencies to mask vulnerability with bravado or unkindness. How often do we, like Calvin, send mixed signals to protect ourselves from potential hurt or rejection?

As we reflect on these examples, we’re confronted with a crucial question: Are we merely performing religious duties, or are we truly allowing God’s grace to transform us from within? It’s easy to fall into the trap of going through the motions of faith without letting it penetrate our hearts and shape our lives.

The prophet Amos delivers a stark warning against this kind of superficial religiosity: “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:21-24)

These words remind us that faith is far more than just a set of rituals or traditions. It’s an authentic, transformative relationship with God that should naturally overflow into how we treat others and engage with the world around us. Our traditions aren’t inherently problematic, but they become so when they take precedence over God’s word and the true spirit of His teachings.

As we wrestle with these ideas, it’s important to remember a key tenet of Lutheran theology: our good works do not earn us God’s love or forgiveness. The fractures in our relationship with God, caused by our sinful actions or inactions, are healed solely by His grace. Our deeds are evidence of our faith, not a means to earn salvation.

This understanding frees us to ask challenging questions about our faith practices:

1. Do we value life and love more than we value our traditions?
2. Are we worshipping God, or have we inadvertently begun to worship our own dogma?
3. How can we honor our preferences and traditions without using them as tools to exclude or criticize others?

Reflecting on these questions can help us align our hearts more closely with God’s will and ensure that our actions truly reflect our faith.

The journey of faith is one of continuous growth and transformation. Like a never-failing stream, God’s grace flows into our lives, shaping us and calling us to let justice and righteousness flow from our hearts into the world around us. This is not always an easy process. It requires vulnerability, honesty, and a willingness to examine our motivations and actions in the light of God’s truth.

As we navigate this path, we can draw inspiration from the words of Luke Timothy Johnson: “For faith to be real, it must be translated into deeds. Otherwise, one’s faith is only self-deception.” This echoes the teaching of Jesus, who warned against honoring God with our lips while our hearts remain far from Him.

Living out our faith authentically means allowing God’s word—the bread of life—to nourish and transform us from within. It means being open to the Holy Spirit’s power, which enables us to align our actions with our beliefs. When we do this, our lives become like that projector, magnifying and displaying the light of Christ to those around us.

In practical terms, this might look like:

– Examining our motivations behind religious practices and traditions
– Seeking opportunities to serve others, especially those different from us
– Being willing to challenge our own preferences and biases
– Cultivating a heart of compassion and justice
– Allowing ourselves to be vulnerable in our relationships with God and others

As we strive to live out our faith authentically, we must remember that this is a lifelong journey. There will be moments of struggle and failure, times when, like Calvin, we might want to yell, “I resent that!” in response to convicting truths. But these moments of discomfort are opportunities for growth, inviting us to lean more fully into God’s transforming grace.

Ultimately, the goal is not perfection, but progress—a steady movement towards a life that more clearly reflects the light of Christ. As we allow God’s truth to illuminate our hearts and guide our actions, we become living testimonies to His love and grace.

May we have the courage to examine our hearts honestly, the humility to align our deeds with our faith, and the grace to let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream in every aspect of our lives. In doing so, we not only draw closer to God but also become beacons of His light in a world that desperately needs it.