Faith That Moves
“...faith without deeds is useless" James 2:20
James really stirs up some controversy in his book. We know from other Scriptures that only faith can save us. Works have no role in making us fit for God's Kingdom. Yet, according to James, once we have citizenship in God's Kingdom and become Jesus followers we are faced with a dilemma. The faith that got us entry into the Kingdom is useless unless it is connected to doing something positive with it. I suppose one could properly say faith provides the motivation for doing good deeds.
James goes on to explain the crisis faced by Abraham. God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son. God had promised that Abraham would be the father of many nations. After more than two decades of waiting, and some missteps by Abraham and Sarah, the promised son becomes a reality. Against all odds Abraham and Sarah have a son. The promise has been fulfilled.
Then to Abraham's horror God asks him to sacrifice his son. Faced with an unimaginable challenge Abraham chooses to have faith in God and to do what God has asked of him. His faith drove him to trust God that somehow the promise would not be taken from him while at the same time he obeyed and went to do what God had commanded. In this example we see faith and works operating side by side.
We also see how faith and works work hand in hand in discipleship. Jesus said: "Go and make disciples." No new disciples enter the Kingdom of God if people of faith huddle in their comfort zones and have faith that they are fitted and ready for eternal life themselves. The works part is go, as Jesus commanded. The really good news is, Jesus said He would go with us and remain with us to the very end of the age.
The mystery of faith verses works is solved when Jesus followers just do what they are asked to do. Sometimes this is as simple as visiting someone who is lonely. Sometimes it is more difficult because it requires a deeper level of trust and faith when we are asked to do something more difficult like speak to someone about our faith in Jesus. Sometimes it requires a longer term commitment to intentionally engage and disciple someone from non believer to a fully devoted and equipped disciple-maker.
