There were these two friends—Sam and Betsy. They were both into social media, especially Facebook. They were constantly checking up on their friends, news, and things that they were interested. One day they both received a message about an event that was being scheduled at the south end of town which was not the best neighborhood in the town where they lived. It was an impoverish neighborhood with many houses and yards needing a lot of work. The event was to come in and clean up the neighborhood and put in a playground for the kids living there. Everyone was invited to come and participate . . . to come and meet their neighbors. It would be work, said the post, but it would also be fun.
Both Sam and Betsy “liked” the post. You know, they hit that little “thumbs up” symbol beneath the message signifying that they “liked” the message. When others saw it they could tell that both Sam and Betsy were supportive of the intention of the message . . . cleaning up a neighborhood, building a playground, and meeting their neighbors. They were good people . . . supportive people . . . caring people.
On the day that the event took place people gathered in the neighborhood and started to work. Among the people was Betsy, but Sam was nowhere to be seen.
Despite images . . . which person really was supportive and caring . . . Sam or Betsy? Which one really “liked” what was going on? Which one was condemned because of their “like”? Think about it.
In the meantime, consider again the reading we heard this morning. The power structure of the community, the chief priests and elders, catch Jesus in the temple courts teaching. Needless to say, they are a little aggressive in their confrontation with Jesus wanting to know where in the world he thinks he gets off doing the things that he is doing. Jesus responds by telling the authorities that he will answer their question if they answer his. He asks them, “John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
It did not take the authorities long to realize that answering Jesus’ question was a “no win” situation. If they answered “from heaven”, then why didn’t they believe John? If they answered “of human origin” they were afraid they would offend and upset the people. It was a “darn if they, darn if they don’t” mess. So, they answered, “We don’t know.”
Jesus did not answer their question either. Instead he told them a simple parable about two sons who are asked by their father to go and work in the vineyard. The first son refuses, but then later he goes and works in the vineyard. The second son agrees but he never goes to the vineyards to work. Jesus poses the question to those gathered—especially the authorities, “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Actions speak louder than words. Just because a person says that he or she “likes” something, if he or she does not back that up with actions then they are nothing more than empty words. Their “like” condemns them. Jesus tells them that “liking” is not enough . . . prove it by living it. As stated, actions speak louder than words.
If social media has taught us anything, it should have taught us that we need to take it with a grain of salt . . . that it is not always what it seems to be . . . that there is a whole lot of “lip service” going on. We should view it with a cautionary and wary eye because not everything that is “liked” ends up being the truth. Lots of people “like” things that they see on social media, but when the dust settles very little of that equates into action.
And, that is frustrating!
I have experienced a lot of people who are notorious in pushing that “like” icon on postings calling for things to be done, but don’t even take the time to read and consider what it is that they are “liking”. It looks good . . . it looks supportive . . . it gives the illusion that they care. They push that “like” icon and then go about their business never to think about it again. Where are they when words turn into action? They are like that son who agrees to go and work in the vineyard but shows up missing in action when the times comes to be accountable.
This whole scene that we see played out in the temple is a powerful caution to all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. Jesus lets those who are gathered and those of us who have heard the story that words alone are not enough. It is not enough to say it, one must live it. Belief is demonstrated through action. Words are empty when they are not accompanied by action. Jesus’ warning is pretty plain: “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”
For Jesus it comes down to less talk and more work.
We want to be careful that our words . . . our “likes” . . . don’t come around and bite us in the rear, don’t condemn us. We need to make our words—our “likes”—congruent with our actions. Trust me, people know when there is no congruency between what we say and do.
So we go back to the fact that “actions speak louder than words” . . . especially when it comes to faith.
We’ve heard that statement many times before, but it is true. There are probably a hundred illustrations of this that I could share about this. The only one I want to share though is the one that states that “love is a verb, not a noun”. As a verb it connotes action . . . that something is being done. So it is when we come to faith . . . faith is putting our words into action. Because of this we should take seriously what is happening in our reading this morning. Jesus is confronting those in authority . . . the primary witnesses that people look up to . . . and challenging them to consider whether or not their words equal their actions. And, if not, why not?
In the same way . . . we the followers of Jesus . . . we who proclaim belief in Jesus, what he says, what he represents . . . he is challenging us. Challenging us to consider our own faith . . . to consider whether or not we are putting what we say into action . . . or are we just pushing the “like” button and thinking that that is good enough? If that is what we are doing then we will be condemned by our “likes”. We know that for Jesus that is not enough. Jesus wants us to put up or shut up.
That is the challenge of our reading this morning . . . the challenge from Jesus . . . do our “likes” equate to the way that we live our lives as his followers; or are they just something that we mindlessly do without any effort to making them realities as a witness to who we are? I don’t know, but what I do know is that I seriously consider my role in “liking” anything that is posted on social media. I seriously consider how I will be viewed whenever I “like” another person’s posting . . . not so much by what others think, but by what God thinks. I want to be seen by God as someone who puts actions before words. Jesus was a “speak less, do more” sort of guy who did not let words get in the way of loving.
May we go and do likewise. Amen.
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