True faith goes much deeper than mental agreement or abstract ideas. Faith involves what we think as well as what we believe and how we feel. Faith is a whole-person matter, which means that it must also involve what we do physically in the world.
Especially in some cultures, intelligence and education are given high regard, above many other qualities. If a person can merely discuss a topic at length and make a good argument, she earns a lot of respect. But if we are to show our faith and love in actions more than words, how can our ideas and debates lead to action?
Again, I want to know your stories. Please post about times when what you believed translated into action. When did an idea produce charitable work? When did a value move you to do something, even though it was difficult?
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I am honored and privileged to be a United Methodist Woman(UMW) whose motto is “Faith, Hope and Love in Action”. For UMW these are not just empty words. We support missions around the world and in the United States and locally.by our gifts and time and talent. Each month at our meeting we donate to a local agency. We advocate for changes in our societial frame work that would support those who are in need by addressing our elected officials, again, locally, state wide and nationally. We speak up on a regular basis to our community leaders to strengthen and support the “Circle of Support” in Washington D.C. and our state capitals So for UMW it’s not just working in the food bank, or the dinning hall or the homeless shelter, it’s looking at the bigger picture to advocate for justice in systems that continue foster the injustice of the status quo that does not support those in most need.
Thank you–and all those at UMW–for your work. My grandmother was a Methodist, and that little church in our small town packed a very big wallup! Peace–Vinita
At work many of the employees are of the same faith as me, Catholic, but simply do not understand what Christ through his Church teaches. I find myself many times going against the general beliefs of the group and try to help them understand what true action we are called to as Catholics and as a people of God. This is not always as easy undertaking, because of the human condition of wanting people to like you.
It is difficult to speak up, but I think that often there are one or two folks who might be ready if someone else breaks ground. Don’t give up. Peace–Vinita
If they ask I tell them. Someone always unfailingly will ask why I do a thing a certain way. If they refuse to hear the answer I say, “You’ll do what you’ll do.” And change the subject. Nobody likes to be preached at, not even a daily churchgoer but if they ask then I tell and when the questions stop so do I.
As far as being liked, Christ wasn’t liked either by a few people but he did what he had to do to get where he had to go. I wouldn’t be too hung up on someone liking someone or something, society is so fickle they will change their minds anyway.
Well, it wasn’t grandiose, but when we were working at loaves and fishes they mentioned that they could use some coffee mugs to serve the guests coffee in the morning instead of paper. I went back to our parish, put a notice in the bulletin and the parishoners donated hundreds of coffee cups and we went down and delivered them. I try to see a need, and fill it.
That’s exactly the way it should work1–Vinita
I had the opportunity to be a pastoral visitor in my local parish while homeschooling my children. It was so beneficial because my children came with me to visit the sick and elderly. We would pray over them and bring them holy communion. I wish my parish would call me to continue this work but as soon as one of the women I served passed away…they stopped calling. I did this for years and loved it. I’ve asked them about it and there is never an answer.
So much for them screaming they need help. That usually indicates disorganization which indicates someone is getting confused and losing sight of what’s what. Good time to phone the parish priest — not the secretary or the head of the servers — and voice your concerns. That’s what I do because if something is amiss I find his helpers just shrug sometimes as if to say what can you do.
Another thing that happens here now with volunteers working with children and possibly others, they have to have a police records check first, like you do in any organization nowadays, at least here.