Forget the Noun, Do the Verb

Picture from Pixabay on Pexels

In a simple definition, a noun is a word used to give a name to things. Example: chair, table, box, etc. And the verb is related to the action. Examples: walk, do, think, etc.

I just finished a book that spoke about the creative process, and this book made me think about Christian life. The book's name is ‘Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (Austin Kleon)’. The author teaches some methods to awaken and keep creativity.

One of the chapters' names is “Forget the noun, do the verb”. In this chapter, the author reflects on the work (verb) of an artist and their title (noun). The work of a painter is to paint, and the work of a writer is to write. The whole chapter is a lesson about the importance of work to obtain the title related to the work. The author says that many people want to be recognised, but do not work to get recognition.

At this point, I suppose you must be asking yourself what all of this has to do with Christian life. I answer that it is more connected than we can imagine.

Let us think together, the term Christian is a noun that identifies those who profess the Christian faith, those who believe in Jesus Christ. And in the same logic of the book, what are the verbs related to the noun Christian? What is needed to be a genuine Christian?

Believe

Picture from Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

The first verb of a Christian is to believe. Each one must believe in God and have faith in the promises that He made. I am not speaking about prosperity promises, I am speaking about the greatest blessing God has given us and his greatest promise: his love and eternal life. If we believe in God and his promise, we will seek to please him in everything we do. We will live our lives assured that God is with us in all situations. And this certainty changes everything.

Work

Picture from Raghav bhadoriya on Pexels

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

Another verb very important is to work. This verse is very famous for expressing in a very clear way the relation between faith (to believe) and deeds (to work). Everyone must believe, and at the same time, work to show their faith. Unfortunately, most of us, Christians (I include myself in the group), think that only believing in God and Jesus is enough. We think there are too many people working for God, and our help is not needed or will be useless. But the truth is each worker is essential. Each of us has unique skills, and God can use us powerfully. But for this to happen, we need to be willing to go to work.

Love

Picture from Pixabay on Pexels

This is my command: Love each other. John 15:17

I believe the verb to love is the most complicated of all, and also one of the easiest to be noticed. Returning to the text about faith and deeds, imagine yourself in an ordinary place, and someone asks you for money or something to eat. One person who loves will do their best to help the person, even if they have no resources, they will pray for the person and ask God to bless that life. And if the person has resources, they will help. The one who observes a situation like that will think: “Certainly that person is a Christian.”

Think about the contrary now. The person does not pray, or then, they have resources but do not help. The one who observes will think: “There is no way someone like this person is a Christian. They saw someone asking for help and mistreated them. Those who love do not do this to their neighbour”.

In Brazil, there is a situation that demonstrates a lack of love. Many “Christians” get happy when they see news about criminals' death, and some of these people celebrate and repeat the phrase: “A good criminal is a dead criminal.” I understand that all actions have their consequences; however, who am I to celebrate the death of another person? Before God, what makes me so better than others? As Christians, we must get sad after knowing about people's death, especially when they die in sinful situations. That one who died was also created in the image of God.

I suppose that at this point, you already understood the relation between the chapter of the book and Christian life. Summarising, only declaring ourselves as Christians does not make us true Christians. Remember the saying: “Actions speak louder than words.” This certainly holds true for the Christian life.

All day, we must do our best to be practitioners of the commandments and Christian principles.

Forget the noun, do the verb