The mountain community church had been damaged in the earthquake, and instead of working together to rebuild it, the people began to point fingers. The congregants said the pastor should do it himself. The pastor said the congregants should help. When the congregants finally decided to help, the pastor said no, not anymore. The congregants then decided that what they needed was a new pastor.
They called in other pastors to help them resolve the conflict, but as months went by, they had meeting after meeting to decide what to do about the damaged walls, and nothing was ever actually accomplished. Recognizing that they needed more help, they asked a more mature and experienced pastor to come guide them in what to do. He traveled to the region for their fourth meeting and sat with them inside the damaged building.
He began by saying that there are two types of Christians, those who talk and those who do. And that's all he said. He then stood up and walked over to one the damaged walls. With his hands he began to chip away at the wall. Those present weren't sure what to make of it, until another man stood up and joined the pastor at the wall, tearing down what was damaged. Soon everyone was involved, and before the end of the day, the damaged walls had been torn down and rebuilt.
When I heard this true story, I was moved by the wisdom of the pastor and the power of people setting aside their bickering to accomplish something together in love. It is easy to see the error in the ways of the villagers, but challenging to see the same mistakes I am making in my own life. May I stop talking about the change I would like to see, and start working towards it.
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17
