Faith and Works

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:14-18 NIV)

Our church is planning to participate in the ELCA's "God's work.  Our hands."  day.  It's a day when we all don our yellow shirts with the above slogan imprinted on them and go out and do good works. Odd for Lutherans, isn't it?  As the story of the dying old crotchety Lutheran pastor goes.... his last words were, "darn right I'm going to heaven!  I haven't done a good work in all my life!"

We Lutherans are big on "saved by grace through faith, and not by works."  And as a good Lutheran I embrace this wonderful, freeing notion.  It is good to know that I can't mess up my salvation just because I'm human.  But James doesn't let us off the hook completely.  He reminds us that if we live our lives ignoring the pain and suffering and needs of others, then we must not really have faith at all.

I'm looking forward to our day of serving.  Not because we are going to be "showing off" our good works by wearing our yellow shirts and not because I think doing something like this will get me into heaven.  It is because we will be serving by helping those less fortunate.  We will be feeding the hungry and helping out our local Christian Ministry that tries so hard to help those in our community with food, clothing, rent and utility bills.  And I want to help.  I want to have a part in easing the burdens of my neighbors.

I want to help, because my faith makes me hate suffering and need.  My faith drives me to do good works.  Jesus didn't heal and serve others so that he could get to heaven and it is the Jesus in each of the faithful that drives our own good works, not the idea of a future mansion on streets of gold.

James and Paul do not contridict each other.  They compliment what each other is saying.  Real faith leads to good works.

Lord Jesus,
Help me to love as you love and who you love and with the sacrificial power of your love.  Amen.