Which is more important–a statement of faith, or a lifestyle reflecting faith?
Which is more important–to tell of Christ, or to reflect His character?
Which is more important–the amount of time we spend hidden in prayer, or the way we live when we come out of prayer?
Which is more important–attending church services once a week, or emulating Christ seven days a week?
Which is more important–expressions of worship, or the heart of worship?
Which is more important–winning the debate, or winning your brother?
Which is more important–the vision of the church, or the people of the church?
Which is more important–defending the faith, or living the truth?
Just throwing it out there… 
nice jeff. reminds me of a poem. this could be totally reformatted into poetry.
good stuff. great points. i’m with ya.
Thanks, Pam. Yeah, I can see the poetic vibe in it, too.
Well said, Jeff. The thought that comes to me (and this is for me to live by, and no reflection on you):
Which is more important–complaining about issues, or working to bring about solutions?
I find it easy to see things that are wrong, and blog about them, but am I actually doing something to improve things? I think writing about them is definitely a move in the right direction, but I want to follow that up with my actions.
Ditto Al’s thoughts for me. Anymore I usually skip the same old blastings of traditional church.. I think that I have heard most of the arguments by now.. I agree with many of them. Like many folks I am looking for positive ways to live out my faith in the sentiments that you beautifully wrote about Jeff.
Al and KB,
I agree that writing about/talking about what’s wrong with the church is only part of the answer. It’s a necessary ingredient because people can’t change what they don’t know is wrong. But it is not the solution in itself–it’s just the alarm signal. As George Barna points out in his book “Revolution”, the true revolutionary is one who lives out the reality of his/her convictions. As we grapple to find better alternatives to what we have known, we have to begin living them out. Too much to elaborate on here, but that is a huge part of what recently prompted our family to move to Denver.
Thank you, Jeff, for being willing to live the question, the important question of life, the universe, and everything. (By the way, did anyone ever wonder why the answer was 42? I wrote about it in one year’s short Christmas musing, referring to Matthew’s conclusion that seekers would see the promise given to Abraham fulfilled 42 generations later in Jesus: “All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to King David, and fourteen from David’s time to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah” (Matthew 1:17). [Forty-two!])
Without questions, however hard they may be, many of us will never truly discover either The Answer Himself or, already knowing Him, might never see how wonderful true relationship with Him and His people can be.
All of Heaven’s best to you and yours,
Margret
Its both/and, not either/or as it has been presented. Both profession and lifestyle, creed and faith, prayer and action (or as Benedictine’s put it: ora et labora). They are not mutually exclusive. Often you canont defend the truth unless you are actually living it.