What is the Relationship Between Faith and Works? - James 2

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.

"The greatest cause of atheism today is people who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him with their lifestyle.  This is what an unbelieving world finds simply unbelievable." (Song by DC Talk 1995) Christians who profess one thing and then act contrary to what they profess can cause people to question if Christianity is really true.  This can lead to the comment often heard today, "Chrisitians are a bunch of hypocrites."

I think this is some what James is getting at in his letter to the early Christian church.  Specifically, the presenting problem is rich people in the Christian community who were neglecting the poor and showing favoritism.  I.e. When those dressed affluently would come into the church they would make sure they were ushered to the prime seats. Yet, when someone clothed in filthy rags came in they would let them sit on the floor.  This is the context in which James says, "Faith without works is dead."  

James is not saying "works save a person". If that was true, then Jesus didn't have to die on a cross for our sin.  James is merely saying faith should result in good works.  Faith in action reaches out in love to those who need it the most.  The poor, the sick, the outcast, and downtrodden.  It is easy to love those who love you, but harder to love those who can give nothing back.  To love like that is the same way God loved us unconditionally.  James says this is what true Christianity looks like.  This is the Christianity which will change the world by its love for others.  

Is think this letter has been widely misunderstood because of the "faith without works is dead" verse. I think they idea that a living and active faith always leads to works is just as applicable for us today, as it was to the early Christian church.  Let's live our lives in ways that draw people to Christ not push them away.