28 Feb 2007 - James 2:14-17

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Let’s Pray: Lord, open the eyes of my heart to see where you still have
work to do to develop my faith.

Scripture for today: James 2:14-17

1. What seems to be the connection between a claim to faith and deeds?
2. According to James, what kind of action accompanies faith? Is this
what you would have expected him to say? Or did you assume
faith-expressing actions to be something else?

Since the Protestant Reformation, when Martin Luther argued for omitting
the book of James from the New Testament for being too works-heavy,
Christians have been struggling to find a balance between faith and
deeds. James is not talking about works that justify you for salvation,
but works that express authentic Christian faith. There¹s a difference!
Works meant to convince God that you are worthy of his salvation are a
wasted effort. God’s salvation is a gift, undeserved and impossible to
buy‹and aren’t we glad for that! But good deeds that are the visible
evidence of faith growing in you are made possible by God¹s power at
work in your heart. Real
faith comes out in real action empowered by a real Spirit.
William Law (1686-1761) took issue with Christians who pray in fancy
terms but then turn around the rest of the week and live godless lives.
He didn’t have a problem with “pious prayers,” but said, “Our lives
should be as holy and heavenly as our prayers!” A Sunday profession of
faith is confirmed by Monday through Saturday deeds that radiate God’s
joyful love to others.
And what are the deeds that demonstrate our faith is real?
Showing compassion to those who are so poor they do not have a coat to
get through a cold, homeless night. Feeding those who otherwise would
subsist on garbage they dig out of city trash bins. If we say we care,
then we should show it with tangible help!
But who is able to do this? Remember, God has created in our hearts
“good works” that make real the heart-change we have experienced. This
is a work of God’s Spirit, to enable and empower us to do what Jesus
would do if he were standing right here assessing a needy situation himself.

O Lord, help me connect the way I live with the faith I profess. I
confess I have averted my eyes from someone who needed me. Please help
me translate the love you have shown me into concrete help for others in
the same circumstance. Please provide out of your bounty what I need in
order to be a blessing to others. In Jesus’ name, and for the sake of
his Kingdom, Amen.

The Rev. Mary Naegeli
Minister-at-Large; Adjunct Faculty, Fuller Theological Seminary