Authentic Christianity
| What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James2:14-17) |
The first danger is Legalistic Faith, where faith is reduced to a rule book of "do's and don'ts." This is very safe faith, it is simple and straight-forward: Just stick to the rules and all will be fine! What is lost is the vibrant flexibility of real faith in real life. It requires no personal relationship with Jesus.
The second danger is Philosophical Faith, where faith is an academic exercise. It is a matter of thinking "positive thoughts" It really doesn't matter what we do or how we do it as long as we can justify it in our minds.
This is the danger facing the scattered Christians that James is addressing here. He spends the rest of the chapter working through this critical issue. Mind-over-matter and positive thinking will not feed the widow who is without food! Intellectualised faith will not clothe the naked. Faith without action is dead.
Real faith leads to changed actions. Real faith will affect the way we interact with the reality of our day to day lives. The gratitude I feel for my new life in Christ must affect the way I treat others. If I am aware of the mercy God has shown me, surely I will treat others with mercy?
James is radical. Faith that does not lead to action is no faith at all. It is empty, ugly, meaningless philosophy and it indicates that we have no real experience of the love and life of Christ.
Changed lives are the sure indicator of a real encounter with the living Christ. Unchanged lives are evidence that we have not really come to grips with the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.
Here's some applicable bumper-sticker-wisdom:
Christ invested His life in you. Have you shown any interest?
In the season of Lent the key words are "Pray", "Fast" and "Give."
What practical expressions of faith have you offered in this time?
