James 2:14-24 (Faith and Deeds)
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 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? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 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. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? 21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
I am contemplating this scripture. And I am confused by it. There are over 30 OTHER scriptures that say, in different iterations, that we are saved by faith and not by works… so what gives? I could ask a theologian to explain it to me, but frankly, the bible seems to be full of contradictions (“eye for an eye and “turn the other cheek”, etc.), and I like the idea that we should also endeavor to do good things.
Use this time to “toot your own horn”, pat yourself on the back and celebrate your acts of kindness…. Shout out here (in the comments) with your acts of kindness, and join me in a series of random acts of kindness.
