“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” — James 1:22 (NKJV)

Our departed brother James offers sound instruction for those of his day as well as for us today when he says “be doers and not hearers only.” For many the routine is to go to church on Sunday and “hear” the preacher’s sermon. Then to consider whether or not it was a “good” sermon, or one that could have been much better. Satisfied with the critique, they wait for the next service to render their verdict again. 

These “hearers only” are those Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13:14-15, those who hear and do not understand because they do not apply to their own lives what they have heard from God’s messenger. Listening to a sermon and ignoring the message is like asking for a great recipe and then ignoring the ingredients and instructions — the outcome will not be good.

We may deceive ourselves into thinking that we have done our part in coming to church and listening to the preacher; until God’s Word has been absorbed into the heart and allowed to influence us, we are “hearers only.” When we hear God’s Word proclaimed we are bound by that word and responsible for allowing it affirm us, or to change us. Our assessment of the sermon may or may not be “good” in our estimation, but if it is God’s truth that is preached we are bound by it to be doers of that word.

We may also deceive ourselves when we feel “spiritual” because we agree with the sermons preached; erroneously thinking that our agreement is equal to being obedient to the message from God’s Word. How we “feel” about God’s message is immaterial unless we are moved to obedience by what God has spoken through the messenger.

The other side of the coin is allowing our own disagreement to give us license to reject the message preached and to fail to act because of that disagreement. We must “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1) by filtering through the Bible; if our sincere test reveals truth, then we are bound by it.

I speak here only of messages that are preached faithful to scripture, by those who desire that God’s Word be proclaimed faithfully to all who will hear. If by chance you find yourself in a church where God’s Word is not held in highest regard, and so preached, LEAVE.

Rev. Bobby Thornhill is a retired pastor.