James’ Faith
To answer yesterday’s post about faith, we need to make some comparisons. Most of us know the great debate between the faith of Paul and that of James. I firmly believe that there is no contradiction between their messages, but I want to examine the way they work themselves out practically.
Paul’s Faith
Paul wrote in Romans about the free gift of grace for those who had faith in Christ. Amen! That is most definitely true, but what that tends to make us think, especially in our churches, is that there’s nothing we need to really do, except have faith, to receive God’s grace. It is this grace that causes the problem. We settle for a greatly diminished idea of grace than what Paul was referring to. Our concept of grace is: a roof over our heads, food on the table, good weather, or whatever will give us the most pleasure. We use grace cheaply to use it to attain whatever brings us what we want. Paul’s idea of grace was that which was needed to get him through each and every hour of the day. I believe that if the fear of persecution or death was looming over us, our faith would take on a radically different shape. I fear that most of us would even lose our “faith,” if they even had it at all.
James’ Faith
James’ faith addressed these issues and made it impossible to passively have faith and not have any outward signs of fruit. James 2:18 says: But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James’ faith was such that it propelled him to greater works. However, one must be cautious not to fall into the trap of legalism and do works to earn favor with God. The proper way of looking at it is to have faith in God’s sustaining grace and out of the overflow of that, do good works.
Conclusion
A lot of you seminary folk have the opposite problem as I do. I over analyze a situation to death that when it finally comes time to step forward in faith, I choke because I am so afraid of screwing up and saying something that will cause them to think poorly of me. I realize this may be more of a fear of man type of problem, but it ultimately comes down to not having the faith of James. I always thought that all that was needed was Paul’s faith, and that would at least get me to heaven. But that’s only half of the puzzle, the other half is having the faith to go forward in obedience, pushing past the temporary fear of the unknown, and doing it all for the glory of God! When I start to care more about God’s glory, this fear will be defeated and I will have the faith that believes AND the faith that does!