The Community Ministry
Weekly Message: Talk is Cheap
June 30, 2026
Have you ever heard the phrase “talk is cheap?” This saying dates back to the early 17th century. In early America, a popular, longer variation of the phrase noted that “talk is cheap, but it takes money to buy a farm.”The core idea is simple: it is easy to make grand promises, but the real value is in actually doing them. I have worked in many places where the leaders say the right things, but their actions fall well short of what they said they would do. This has also been a common problem in the government and other large organizations. I think the tragedy with the space shuttle Challenger may provide one of the best examples. NASA’s core value was “Safety is our top priority.” The organization created a detailed “paper” safety plan but when they faced extreme political pressure, they chose to compromise and launch the shuttle when they knew there was a chance of a significant failure. So how do we deal with a situation where we need to make a commitment or make a statement, and have that align with what we actually do?
This is the kind of behavior that the Apostle James was talking about in his letter to the believers about 20 years after Jesus was resurrected from the dead. James said: “What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” These are tough words coming from James. James argues that our faith and our works are inextricably linked to our relationship with God. If we believe in God, then good works or good deeds will be the result. If there are no “good works”, then we need to reassess whether we have faith in God, or if we are simply going through the motions.
This idea of faith’s connection to doing good things is a consistent message that came directly from Jesus. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” The fruits that Jesus is talking about here are the good things that we do for others. He underscores that claiming to have faith without corresponding action results in a faith that is dead.
So, what does faith without works look like? One of the best examples of “faith without works” in the last 50 years is the rise and fall of Jim Bakker and the Praise The Lord Ministry in 1987. Bakker had an aggressive message of blessings coming to those who gave to his ministry while he at the same time committed massive financial fraud, misconduct and a huge intentional cover up. Clearly, Bakker was more concerned about his own personal lifestyle than he was living a life that was committed to the giving that Jesus professed was important.
There are some amazing examples of individuals who put their talk into actions. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a theologian and pastor in Germany in the 1930’s. During the reign of Hitler, the German church began to compromise their values and align them with the Nazi leadership. Bonhoeffer could have taken refuge outside of Germany, but instead of fleeing to safety, he chose to stay in Germany and organize an underground seminary to train pastors to resist the Nazi ideology. Bonhoeffer was ultimately put to death just a few weeks before the end of World War 2. Bonhoeffer was willing to accept extreme personal peril so that his actions would match his talk. Martin Luther King is also another positive example of a leader who was willing to take action about what he believed. During his years of speaking outabout equality for all Americans, King’s home was bombed, he was stabbed and jailed 29 times. King was willing to put his life at risk and defend the equality that he so vehemently professed. His mission ultimately cost him his life when he was assassinated by a segregationist in 1968.
Our best example of actions tied to beliefs is Jesus. He was willing to take on the punishment for all the sins that His believers committed, even though it cost him great pain and suffering. May God give us the strength to let our actions match our beliefs that are centered on the words of Jesus.
If you have questions or would like us to pray with you, please call or text 305-306-7842. Your friends at The Community Ministry, www.thecommunityminstry.org.
Mensajeseminal: Las palabras se las lleva el viento
30 de junio de 2026
¿Algunavez has escuchado la frase «las palabras se las lleva el viento»? Este dicho se remonta a principios del siglo XVII. En losinicios de Estados Unidos, existíaunavariantemáslarga y popular de la frasequeseñalaba: «las palabras son baratas, perohacefalta dinero para comprarunagranja». La idea central es sencilla: es fácilhacergrandespromesas, pero el verdadero valor resideencumplirlasrealmente. He trabajadoenmuchoslugaresdondeloslíderesdicen lo correcto, pero sus accionesquedanmuylejos de lo queprometieronhacer. Este también ha sido un problemacomúnen el gobierno y enotrasgrandesorganizaciones. Creo que la tragedia del transbordadorespacial Challenger ofrece uno de losmejoresejemplos. El valor fundamental de la NASA era: «La seguridad es nuestramáximaprioridad». La organizacióncreóun plan de seguridaddetallado «sobre el papel», perocuando se enfrentaron a unapresiónpolítica extrema, optaronpor ceder y lanzar el transbordador a pesar de saber queexistía el riesgo de un fallo grave. Entonces, ¿cómoafrontamosunasituaciónen la quedebemosasumir un compromiso o hacerunadeclaración, asegurándonos de queestoconcuerde con lo querealmentehacemos?
Este es el tipo de comportamiento al que se refería el apóstol Santiago ensu carta a loscreyentes, unosveinteañosdespués de la resurrección de Jesús. Santiago dijo: «¿De quésirve, hermanos y hermanas, quealguiendigaquetienefesi no tieneobras? ¿Puedeesafesalvarlo? Si un hermano o unahermanacarece de ropa y del alimentodiario, y uno de ustedes le dice: “Veteenpaz, abrígate y aliméntate bien”, peronole da lo necesario para sucuerpo, ¿de quésirve eso? De la mismamanera, la fe, si no tieneobras, estámuertaporsí sola». Son palabras contundentes las de Santiago. Élsostienequenuestrafe y nuestrasobrasestánintrínsecamenteligadas a nuestrarelación con Dios. Si creemosen Dios, el resultadoserán las buenasobras o acciones. Si no hay «buenasobras», debemosreplantearnossirealmentetenemosfeen Dios o sisimplementeestamoscumpliendo con las apariencias.
Esta idea de la conexión entre la fe y el hacer el bien es un mensajeconstantequeprovinodirectamente de Jesús. Durante el Sermón del Monte, Jesús dijo: «Cuídense de losfalsosprofetas, quevienen a ustedesvestidos de ovejas, peroquepordentro son lobos rapaces. Por sus frutoslosconocerán. ¿Acaso se recogenuvas de los espinos o higos de loscardos? Así, todobuen árbol da buenos frutos, pero el árbol malo da frutosmalos. Un buen árbol no puededarfrutosmalos, ni un árbol malopuededar buenos frutos. Todo árbol queno da buenfruto es cortado y arrojado al fuego. Asíque, por sus frutoslosconocerán. No todo el que me dice: “Señor, Señor”, entraráen el reino de loscielos, sino el quehace la voluntad de mi Padre queestáenloscielos». Los frutos de losquehabla Jesús aquí son las buenasobrasquerealizamosen favor de losdemás. Élrecalcaqueafirmartenerfe sin queellovayaacompañado de accionesresultaenunafemuerta.
Entonces, ¿cómo es la fe sin obras? Uno de losmejoresejemplos de «fe sin obras» enlosúltimos 50 años es el ascenso y la caída de Jim Bakker y el ministerio *Praise The Lord* (Alabad al Señor) en 1987. Bakker predicaba un mensajeagresivosobre las bendicionesquerecibiríanquienesdonaran a suministerio, mientrasque, al mismotiempo, cometía un fraudefinancieromasivo, incurríaenconductasindebidas y llevaba a cabo un enormeencubrimientodeliberado. Claramente, a Bakker le preocupabamássupropioestilo de vida personal quevivirunavidacomprometida con la generosidadque Jesús considerabaimportante.
Existenejemplosadmirables de personas quellevaron sus palabras a la acción. Dietrich Bonhoeffer fue un teólogo y pastor alemánen la década de 1930. Durante el régimen de Hitler, la iglesiaalemanacomenzó a comprometer sus valores y aalinearse con el liderazgo nazi. Bonhoeffer podríahaberserefugiado fuera de Alemania, peroenlugar de huir para ponerse a salvo, decidióquedarse y organizar un seminarioclandestino para formarpastorescapaces de resistir la ideología nazi. Finalmente, Bonhoeffer fueejecutadoapenasunassemanas antes de queterminara la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Estuvodispuestoaafrontar un peligro personal extremo para que sus accionescoincidieran con sus palabras. Martin Luther King es otroejemplopositivo de un líderqueestuvodispuestoaactuarenconsonancia con sus convicciones. Durante losañosenquealzó la voz a favor de la igualdad para todoslosestadounidenses, King sufrió el atentado con bomba contra suhogar, fueapuñalado y encarceladoen 29 ocasiones. King estuvodispuestoaarriesgarsuvida y a defender la igualdadqueproclamaba con tanto fervor. Su misiónterminócostándole la vida al ser asesinadopor un segregacionistaen 1968.
Nuestro mejorejemplo de accionescoherentes con las creencias es Jesús. Élestuvodispuestoaasumir el castigoportodoslospecadoscometidospor sus creyentes, aun a costa de un gran dolor y sufrimiento. Que Dios nosconceda la fortaleza para hacerquenuestrasaccionesconcuerden con nuestrascreencias, centradasen las palabras de Jesús.
Si tienepreguntas o deseaqueoremos con usted, por favor llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 305-306-7842.
Sus amigos de The Community Ministry, www.thecommunityministry.org.
