I keep recalling this passage: “James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead.”
Now, 19 years in Pentecost tells me that ‘works’ would be going about our day as though nothing has happened, as though we are not facing a pandemic, as though there’s no way we could be sick. But think about the times this was written, and the times just past this. The church was persecuted. People were being killed for their faith. Was their response to have more church, to have bigger churches, to dare the Romans to come and get them? No. They met in private, in secret, sometimes in catacombs. They didn’t hide their faith, but they didn’t go shout “Come and get me! You can’t touch me!” Because they knew that wasn’t the case. They knew they could die, and so they were careful. But their caution or risk wasn’t what this passage was discussing.
And what it WAS discussing might be something these churches that insist on meeting should consider. There were Christians, apparently, according to the passage, who needed help, who needed special care. And there were other Christians who, rather than caring for them in ways that would meet their needs, would simply say, “praying for you!” “Thoughts and prayers!” And James said, “No, this doesn’t show your faith, saying ‘praying for you’ and then walking away! Faith goes hand in hand with action.” And today, that would mean not praying for people and going to church and bragging about not following the stay home orders or social distancing requests, but instead caring for those with weakened immune systems and the elderly and their caregivers by doing as we’re told.
Faith and works, James says, go hand in hand. You cannot have real faith without ‘feet’ — without acting on that faith by loving others. And the best way to love others right now is to stop hoarding food, stop going out, start keeping your distance and staying home when possible, and start spending your time, rather than bragging about how great your faith is, showing it. Sew some masks for critical care workers who are putting their own health at risk to help others in this time. Offer to tutor students or post a few informational videos that might help parents trying to teach kids at home. If you want to go out and shop to show your faith, offer to pick up some groceries for someone who can’t or won’t because they don’t want to catch or spread this. And give people space and thank the cashiers and stockers when you do. There are plenty of ways to show faith – loving others, caring for the sick or elderly, simply listening. And staying home to help ensure others are safe. That’s faith with works. That’s love. And that’s what everything in Christianity is supposed to be about.
