Monday, February 11, 2008

Walk the Walk . . . or Just Ride!

I am going to discuss a couple questions at once. Again, these are questions I've received from students and both deal with Christian behavior. The first student asks, "Where am I in Jesus? For instance, do I have to stop everything God doesn't like or just try not to do bad things?" The second questions is as follows: "If you have Christ in your heart but you don't do the most Godly things will you go to heaven?"

Both students seem to be wrestling with the role of good works in the Christian faith. Now the apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Just so we're clear, it is God who saves us through the blood of Jesus. And this gift of salvation is offered to everyone who would put their faith in Christ.

But does merely saying a prayer mean you have the kind of faith Paul is talking about? James, another New Testament writer, asks this question: "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him?" (James 2:14). Paul specifically says that we're saved by grace through faith and NOT by our good works. But James seems to be saying that good deeds have some role. Who is right?

Well, first of all, James is not disagreeing with Paul. He clarifies his point in verse 17 when he says, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James would say that if a person says he or she has faith in something but is unwilling to act on it, then they likely do not have any real faith at all.There is a famous story about French daredevil, Jean Francois Gravelet a.k.a. Charles Blondin that illustrates James' point. Imagine a tightrope stretched over Niagara Falls. This Blondin is entertaining a crowd by walking from one side to the other pushing a wheelbarrow. The crowd applauds the man's skill and bravery. Then Blondin says to the viewers, "Do you believe I can do it again?" The crowd shouts their agreement. He then asks, "Do you believe I could do it with a man sitting in the wheelbarrow?" Again, the crowd gives their affirmation. Finally he challenges them, "Then who will come and ride in the wheelbarrow?" This last statement silences the crowd.

Blondin touches on the same theme James is trying to address: evidence of faith is displayed in action. God asks for the same kind of faith that would cause a person to step inside the wheelbarrow; He wants us to put our lives in His infinitely capable hands. When we listen to His word and obey His commands we show our faith in Him.

James uses the example of Abraham in the Old Testament. God told him to offer his one and only son as a sacrifice on an altar. Abraham did not understand why God would have him do that, but he obeyed. Even though God stopped him at the last moment, I think Abraham would have rather gone across a tightrope in a wheelbarrow than endure that experience.

James explains that Abraham's "faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." (James 2:22). If you are wondering what you must do to prove your faith in God, just read your Bible and pray to Him. God has given us His Word to tell us how He wants us to live and He allows us to come before Him in prayer whenever we want.