Are you a noun or a verb?

I was listening to Mark Hankins recently and he was talking about being a noun or a verb.  That caught my attention!  What he had to say was very thought provoking, so I thought I'd provoke you as well, ha ha!

In case you've forgotten your English from 7th grade - here are the definitions:  Noun - a word that is the name of a person, thing, action, quality, etc.;  Verb - a word that shows action or a condition of being. 

Hmmmmm - Christian - is that our name or is that or condition of being?  Kind of makes you stop and think, huh?  For example - a Noun Christian just comes to Church on Sunday, hears a good sermon and goes home.  Bible lays on the coffee table, or underneath the seat of the car, until next Sunday, or whenever the mood strikes to go back to Church.  Take to heart the things the Pastor says?  Not likely.  Pray for the sick, tithe, give offerings, walk in love, pray?  Probably not.  That would require action.  A Noun Christian just refers to him/her self as "A Christian."  Most of the people he/she works with have no idea what he/she believes.  There is no action that corresponds to the name.

A Verb Christian starts out kind of like a Noun Christian.  Comes to Church Sunday morning, hears a good sermon and goes home.  But that's where the similarity ends.  The Verb Christian puts into action what he/she has heard.  Reads the Bible, asks "can I pray for you" when someone tells them they're not feeling good, tithes, gives offerings, does their level best to walk in love.  Everyone that this person comes into contact is very confident that they are a Christian.  Get the picture?

The Noun Christian will never impact the world for Christ.  The Verb Christian makes an impact everywhere he/she goes.  Bro. Copeland was saying just the other night that it's not the Word you know, but the Word you do that matters.  Apparently Paul agrees with him because in Philippians 4:9 he said: The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do (emphasis mine), and the God of peace will be with you. 

So - let's go out and be Verb Christians this week!

Love ya  ;)