Bookshelf Faith || What Faith IS (Part 3 of 4)
Faith Requires Action
As mentioned in my earlier post, when I was younger, faith was an idea of wishing and hoping. If I wished and hoped hard enough, kind of like rubbing a lamp, then what I wanted would happen. And if that thing I was wishing and hoping for didn’t happen, well, apparently I did not have enough faith. But I was wrong in my definition of faith. I hadn’t fully grasped or understood what biblical faith was. I was looking at faith through the eyes of how society defined faith and how Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston sang it.
I also treated my faith like many of the books I have on my shelves. When I needed it, needed something, or had a problem, I would grab my so-called faith off the shelf, thumb through it, wish upon a star, then put it back where it originally was. On the shelf. Not in use.
In the Book of James, James cuts right to the point. He doesn’t beat around the bush or soften what Faith is. He just says it. And in our current world of “do not offend,” well, this is the quite the opposite.
James says faith without action, without movement, without living it out is NOT faith. It’s a belief. We can believe in something and do nothing about it. We can believe, know, have and an opinion about something, but do absolutely nothing with that knowledge. And sadly, this is how the Christian faith is often treated. It’s not a badge, or a medal we wear around our necks. However, active Faith requires action. It requires that we DO something with it.
James 2:14-26 (NLT) says:
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.
One thing we need to make very clear is James is not saying a person is saved by works (by their doing) and not by genuine faith. Rather, he is saying, to use Martin Luther’s words, “that a man is justified (declared righteous before God) by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.” Genuine faith will produce good deeds, but only faith in Christ saves.
Matthew Henry Concise Commentary also explains that “no doubt, true faith alone, whereby men have part in Christ’s righteousness, atonement, and grace, saves their souls; but it produces holy fruits, and is shown to be real by its effect on their works; while mere assent (or acknowledgement) to any form of doctrine, or mere historical belief of any facts, wholly differs from this saving faith. This place of Scripture plainly shows that an opinion, or assent (or acknowledgement) to the gospel, without works (action) is not faith. There is no way to show we really believe in Christ, but by being diligent in good works, from gospel motives, and for gospel purposes.”
Faith MOVES us to ACTION. Action in knowing God more, daily. Active faith propels us forward into a deeper relationship with WHO God is. To KNOW God is more than just “trying Him on” like a pair of pants. And if He doesn’t fit, you toss him into the pile of things you ‘tried.” Faith, true genuine faith grows.
James’ words are bold. They’re in your face. He was the brother of Jesus and at one point questioned whether or not Jesus was truly the Messiah. However, later, his belief was radically shaken into a true faith of who Jesus is. And the boldness in which he believed who Jesus is, was not just a “closet faith.” He LIVED it.
Often times we are so wrapped up in what other people may think of us that we sink back, and never say anything, we never do anything with our faith. We see a need and think, “Someone else will do it.” We have a conversation with someone and so badly want to say something, but worry how it will come across. Or we see sin, but don’t confront our fellow believer. Our faith is treated as a label, a pretty badge, rather than what it: glorious.
Jesus is calling us to live boldly. Without fear. Without worrying about what others will think of us. He is calling us to LIVE OUT our faith. Keeping it inside for us and us alone is not faith.
Now, I’m not saying to go stand on some street corner with a cardboard sign that says “Turn or Burn.” But I am asking us to ask ourselves these questions:
How am I living out my faith to the world?
How am I living my faith in action for Jesus?
Am I spending time to KNOW Him? Or just placing him on a shelf?
Faith isn’t a consumer. It doesn’t gorge itself and hoard. It doesn’t arrive at church and say “How can you serve me?” It doesn’t live a life egocentrically. FAITH moves us to ACTION. Moves us to serve others. Moves us to love others more than we love ourselves. Faith calls us to live a life outside of the norm. Calls us to push the boundaries of our comfort and live a life for the gospel. Faith calls us to follow Jesus’ footsteps.
I have had both “belief” and faith. My beliefs have produced nothing. But my faith in Christ has moved mountains. I have seen miracles happen. I have seen the impossible take place. I have seen walls shattered, lives changes, hearts redeemed… and I don’t ever want to have a “bookshelf faith” again. I want my faith to always be alive, flourishing, and growing. Does that mean there won’t be seasons of drought, desserts, or silence? No, not at all. But my faith isn’t based on a feeling. It’s based on Truth, which propels me forward.
Maybe you’re not sure where to even begin when it comes to putting your faith into action. Ask Him and He will open those doors and make it VERY apparent. But be ready. Active faith pushes boundaries. It will take that closet faith and push our comfort zones past a faith that is no longer about ourselves, about consuming, and make it about Jesus and serving others.
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Visit links below for next post in this series:
Bookshelf Faith || What Faith Is Part 3 of 4
Faith Pushes Boundaries || Part 4a of 4d
Faith & Comfort Don’t Mix || Part 4b of 4d
