“Walk the talk.” “Practice what you preach.” We’ve heard these phrases many times from childhood to adulthood. We know what they mean, but do we realize just how important those words are?
Walking the talk means our behavior aligns with our beliefs. We put into action what we know to be true. Just saying “I am a Christian” without any fruit or evidence is only lip service. “… faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17 NIV1984). James gives us the example of Abraham, who was considered righteous when he offered his son, Isaac, on the altar. “… his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did” (James 2:22).
Lately, I’ve heard different government leaders make speeches filled with cursing and expressions of hate and anger. If asked if they were Christians, several might say that they were. However, their actions would betray their words.
The world is blind to spiritual matters but quick to spot hypocrisy among Christians. Unbelievers delight in finding followers of Christ who do not “walk the talk.”
Sadly, the church is full of hypocrites, and we are all included. We sin and often betray the very beliefs we know are true. We are to obey God’s commands. The person who says, “… ‘I know him,’ but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him…Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (I John 2:4,6). Jesus said, “Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing…” (John 14:12).It is a sad commentary to be surprised if someone makes unkind remarks toward another person; it is even sadder if someone says, “That’s not surprising, that’s just the way she is.”
We like to think we always “walk the talk,” but a self-examination may prove otherwise. The Bible gives strong characteristics of one who walks close to the Lord. “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” (Rom. 12:9-13). Others who see these traits in us will not have to ask if we are Christians; they will know. It is not just lip service. Paul goes on to say that we should bless those who persecute us, live in harmony and at peace with one another, do not be conceited and do not seek revenge.
Self-examination will show us where we fail. Our behavior in church when things don’t go our way — getting angry and “spouting” off to someone, complaining over insignificant matters (the music, the sound, the sermon length), gossiping, refusing to cooperate or show a desire for unity — reveal we are “talking the walk” but not “walking the talk.” Our fleshly nature often gets the best of us. Even outside the church, our actions must also glorify God.
Paul wrote to Timothy about being an example to others “…in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity …Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress” (I Timothy 4:12, 15). We are not perfect, but we are a work of God in progress! We must be diligent in our efforts to be Christ-like.We must “walk the talk” if we are to have any influence on unbelievers.
