Dead Faith

James 2:14-26

Several years ago, Hank and Nancy Mantonya, missionaries to Brazil, visited our home. They had killed a small(17 foot) anaconda in their back yard, skinned it, and cured the skin, bringing it with them to show in the churches they visited. When they came into the house I had noticed our dog behaved in an unusual manner, not approaching them at all. Unpacking the skin, they unrolled it down the hallway to give us an idea how large the snake had been.

Our cat went into hysterics. Though she’d never before seen one, she identified the smell of the anaconda as that of a dangerous predator. She did not relax until the skin was taken back to the car. When they stepped out the door with the skin exposed, our dog left precipitously. Obviously he also recognized the smell as being of something extremely dangerous. What neither pet understood was that the snake was dead, and no longer posed a threat. The skin was real, but it had no power to hurt them. This is the thesis of James’ teaching on faith.

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14)

When the earthquake struck Haiti, and hundreds of thousands were left homeless and lacking food or water. Thousands of churches across the United States began praying for the people of Haiti,although everyone knew that what they could give would have little impact. While the prayers sounded very pious, they would have meant little if people had not also done what they could and trusted God to make it enough. Government organizations delayed until they had enough to make a big difference, and thousands died before they began to act. It was the actions of the individuals that enabled many to survive. The individuals demonstrated their faith in trying to help some.

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” Speeches may sound very religious and deep, but it is the action that proves the faith. Talk is very cheap. Action demonstrates the impact of the faith. Politicians who say they are of a certain religion, but they don’t allow their religion to influence them are much like the James describes the demons.

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? ” (James 2:19-20) The demons know there is a God, and that he will judge them because of their wickedness. Rather than stopping in hopes of escaping judgment, they increase their efforts to do as much evil as possible before they are judged. Their faith is absolute, but they don’t act accordingly, and it doesn‘t accomplish anything for them. They will still be judged.

Abraham demonstrated his faith by obeying God even when doing so appeared disastrous. His faith caused him to take action, to obey God. By doing so, God was enabled to provide the ram in Isaac’s place. Had he not obeyed, Abraham could never have seen what God intended for him, so strengthening his faith.

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (James 2:21-24)

According to Rahab’s statement in Joshua 2:9-11, all the people of Jericho believed God would give Israel the victory. “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

While the others decided it was hopeless, and that they’d fight to the death, Rahab took action, helping the spies and thus saving her entire family. Her faith produced action because it was alive, just as Abraham’s did. The action allowed God’s work to be observed in her life. God would have still done as he intended whether she helped the spies or not, but her faith would not have benefited her.

“Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:25-26)

Our actions do not produce the results, but they enable us to experience the results. Saving the spies, if not for God’s action, would have just made Rahab a traitor. Sacrificing Isaac would have made Abraham a murderer, except for God’s action. The actions themselves would not have accomplished anything, without the faith that prompted them. At the same time, faith that doesn't result in action will not accomplish anything.