17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. – James 2:17
Putting faith into action is a big portion of what James teaches. It is an understanding that is hotly debated among some. In fact, a little bit of church history - when Martin Luther was working on his German translation of the Bible, he debated leaving this book out. His debate was based on this call for piety of faith, where action or works was a necessary aspect of faith, and Luther claimed that we are saved by faith alone. Eventually, Luther did add this book to the German translation, and therefore we have it in our English translations today.
One of the biggest issues in the debate between faith and works, is that if we focus too much on one and leave the other out completely we are not living a complete Christian life. Like Luther many of us believe in simply a faith based salvation. We believe in faith that Jesus came to save sinners such as we. As we grow in our faith however, at least in my experience, is that when we are overcome by the never ending love of God we find in our faith, we are compelled to want to do good for others. This is the great point of faith, that I believe James is speaking to us.
To paraphrase and expand on the verse above, perhaps we should understand the relationship of faith and works as follows. If we don’t have a compelling faith that moves us to want to live in good actions towards others, than our faith is weak or dead. The sheer overwhelming love of God is supposed to transform us to desire to do better, to want better, and to be better. God’s transforming salvation through faith, then, calls us to offer God’s love in word and action. So, when James says faith, if it has no works, is dead, is telling us that if our faith doesn’t compel us to love in word or deed, maybe we should work on our faith.
I know, I am convicted to work on my faith every time I come to these verse, that I might grow and understand even more how to love others with an active, lively faith. I pray we would all strive for the same.
Grace & Peace,
Sam