making sense
Have you ever found yourself in a debate and then walked away unchanged? Most of us have had that experience. Or have you ever made claims, and someone discredited your claims because your own behavior betrayed your argument: “Do what I say and not what I do” in action?
Intellectual and philosophical engagement can be healthy and good. But unless there is a living out, a real working of the things we have thought about, then it profits little. As verse 19 points out, two parties may believe the exact same thing (for example, “there is one God”), but with entirely different results. “Good doctrine” will only render good results to the extent that it is enmeshed with thinking and decision making. I may say “smoking is unhealthy”, but do it anyway: my belief has not penetrated my being. Either the truth of the ill effects of smoking has not really taken root in my thinking or I do not value health enough to let the truth impact my thinking. Therefore the statement remains detached from my decision making, and doesn’t really make sense in light of how I live.
Many people raised in or around the church have the “right answers” (you know, the Sunday School answers!). But statistics indicate, that for many, “Christian belief” is disturbingly detached from behavior. Divorce rates are approximately the same between Christians and non-Christians.[1] 57% of pastors say that addiction to pornography is the most sexually damaging issue to their congregation.[2] Only 46% of those claiming to be Christians read their Bibles[3] This is disappointing, but here is what James is talking about. Knowing the "right" answer means little. Living it means a lot: living it makes sense.
Socrates claimed, “The unexamined life is not worth living”. But James takes it further: examine your life by the standards of your belief. Does your “belief” have real roots (the implanted word of verse 1:21) and does it find real expression of your very being? If so, it will be instructional and visible and it will make sense!
Read and Pray: Psalm 119:9-11, John 8:31-32
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