James 2:14 - 17 (Dead and useless faith)

September 15, 2021 (Wednesday)

 

James equates what we believe with how we behave. James digs into what it means to believe when he states, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” [James 2:14 ESV] Full disclosure: I chose the ESV in this instance for the word “works.”

 

Something strange has occurred in American protestant theology. Somehow we have manage to make faith and works opposites. This might have developed in reaction to pre-Reformation Catholic theology. I suspect splitting faith and works is an error. I suspect this error is satanic in nature.

 

What James is asking is simple, “Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it?” [James 2:14b CEB] James the uses an illustration, “Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat.” [James 2:15 CEB] Please note, the concept of “poverty” is relative to context. You might not believe me, but many poor in America would still be comfortable to rich in other countries.

 

If you are a student of Proverbs, you may be under the impression that poverty is self-inflicted. However, I think there are people who are enslaved in a cycle of poverty with no practical opportunity, hope, or knowledge of escape. God is deeply concerned about those victimized by systemic poverty. Or as Jesus said, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” [Matthew 25:40 NIV]

 

James continues the line of thought, “What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs?” [James 2:16 CEB] Notice the James-like twist; if you are useless to others, then your faith is useless to you. If you claim to have faith, yet are cold towards KNOWN needs, it exposes the lack of substance to what you call “faith.”

 

James makes the point, “In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.” [James 2:17 CEB] Another way to say that is faith without works is dead and useless. Dead is dead. This kind of faith, that produces nothing useful, does not change us.

 

Living faith changes us. Living faith changes how we move through life. Living faith interacts with others. It is precisely our attitude and behavior toward others that shows us if we have a living (saving) faith. James is going to continue to paint this picture… it won’t be next time. I have something special for the next study.