Rajani LaRocca, a female Indian-American author of children's literature and a primary-care physician once remarked: “Together, we decide that a hero: Is brave, but not without fear. Because if you fear nothing, how can you be brave? Says what they believe is right. Because if you cannot say what you believe in, how much do you believe in it? Works to make the world better. Because doing something is even more important than talking about it. Acts out of love for others. Because caring for other people is the biggest difference between a hero and a villain.” Matthew 5:16 reminds us: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
An established proverb, "Actions speak louder than words" infers that what a person does is a more reliable indicator of their true intentions than what they say. It suggests that actions are more significant and revealing of personal character than promises or speeches, which can be easy to make, but are not always followed through. Actions of good intentions are considered a form of sincerity. Sincerity is the virtue of acting and communicating in a way that is honest, genuine, and free from pretense, deceit, or hypocrisy. It is a congruence between one's inner feelings, thoughts, and intentions, and through actions, they demonstrate commitment and reliability. While words can be easily manipulated, consistent actions are a powerful way to show true intentions and build trust. But what happens if certain actions are considered misleading or wrongful? If actions are wrongful, the judicial or Godly consequences depend on the nature of the deed.
Another proverb, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating” is closely related to the axiom of actions because both phrases mean that the true value of something is determined by its results and measures, not by what is said about it. The proof of the pudding saying emphasizes that the quality of something is only manifested after it is tested, which is an exploit, much like how the proverb "actions speak louder than words" states that deeds hold more weight than mere promises or talk.
In both law, and the sight of God, deception can be considered fallacious or causing someone to believe something that is not true, which is contrary to God's nature of truth. It involves dishonesty, trickery, and concealing the truth, and is considered a sin that separates or divides people from God. This can range from lying and bearing false witness to more subtle forms like prioritizing personal desires over sound doctrine, or simply agreeing with Jesus without acting on his words.
Sincerity relates to God by being a foundational aspect of a genuine relationship with the divine, requiring an honest, truthful, and unpretentious heart in worship, prayer, and daily life. It is crucial for true faith and worship, as God desires to be approached with a sincere heart, not with hypocrisy or pretense. This sincerity in seeking God is often tied to a sincere belief in and practice of his teachings and is seen as a necessary quality for genuine devotion. 2 Corinthians 2:17 reminds us: “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.” Both words and actions can sometimes be considered hypocritical as hypocrisy is fundamentally defined by a contradiction between what a person says, believes, and does. The inconsistency between words and actions is the fundamental core of hypocrisy, and it's often jarring because people tend to seek congruence between them.
A key biblical story about hypocrisy is the incident with Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11, where the couple pretended to give a full donation to the church but secretly kept some of the money, resulting in their immediate deaths. Another prominent example is Jesus's confrontations with the Pharisees, who are repeatedly condemned for their hypocrisy in appearing religious while their hearts were far from God. They are criticized for external piety, such as making long prayers for show, while also oppressing widows and lacking compassion. The first reference states: “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge, he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
The Christian faith considers the Bible to be a book of God’s words. Words are a fundamental and powerful tool that help in numerous ways, from shaping thoughts and reality to building relationships and inspiring change. They are not just passive labels but active forces that can build, break, heal, or hurt. Cassandra Clare, an American writer once remarked: “We live and breathe words. .... It was books that made me feel that perhaps I was not completely alone. They could be honest with me, and I with them. Reading your words, what you wrote, how you were lonely sometimes and afraid, but always brave; the way you saw the world, its colors and textures and sounds, I felt--I felt the way you thought, hoped, felt, dreamt. I felt I was dreaming and thinking and feeling with you. I dreamed what you dreamed, wanted what you wanted--and then I realized that truly I just wanted you.”
Conversely, actions can include true obedience. True obedience is fundamentally about measures and how they manifest one's beliefs, intentions, and faith. It goes beyond mere compliance to include a willingness to act in accordance with a set of commands, laws, or will, and often implies a positive and active response driven by love, trust, or reverence. Matthew 21:28-32 is a parable Jesus tells about two sons, illustrating that true obedience comes from actions, not just words. The first son initially refused but later obeyed, while the second son promised to go but never did. Jesus uses this to show that people who outwardly appear righteous are not always pleasing to God, while those who may seem "sinful" can find favor by repenting and doing God's will, such as the tax collectors and prostitutes who believed John the Baptist.
It states: “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Amen.
