THIS FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD (James 2:17)*

 Martin Luther famously did not like the Letter of James in the NT, calling it “that letter of straw.” To Luther it lacked the nature of the Gospel; it did not present “righteousness by faith.”  But James IS presenting righteousness by faith.  Entrusting oneself to God in Christ (faith/belief) results in an inseparable correlation, like two sides of the same coin.  To be “righteous” before God is to be rightly related to God AND others.

How did Jesus, and good Judaism, sum up the Law?  “Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31).  The so-called “Ten Commandments” are first about being rightly related to God and then to others (Exod 20:1-11, 12-17).  The Lord’s prayer is first about being rightly related to God and then inclusively for self and others/“us” (Matt 6:9-10, 11-13).  In my devotional reflection on Psalm 24:4 (9/25), the requirements of being completely perfect/whole and able to come into the presence of God are balanced pairs, such as “clean of hands” (actions towards others) and “pure of heart” (internal disposition) before the eyes of God.  On the one hand, Jesus could teach that all evil deeds such as theft, adultery, and greed come from the heart and that it is the heart that makes a person unclean (Mark 7:20-23).  On the other hand, Jesus could base judgment before the throne of God upon whether a person fed the hungry, took care of the sick, etc. (Matt 25:31-46).  Jesus addresses both the heart AND one’s actions.  There is a correlation between “love God” and “love your neighbor” that cannot be separated.

God’s people are called to be holy and, therefore, both “pure of heart” and “clean of hand.”  This is what James is getting at.  He understands that Abraham entrusted himself to God and God saw that as righteousness (James 2:23 quotes Gen 15:6); but, just before that quotation he points to Abraham’s obedience (2:20-22); that is, to “have faith in God” includes faithful obedience.  Unlike Luther (apparently?) a reader of James should recognize both that James’ understanding of “righteous by faith” is complete, but that in this letter he is particularly rebuking those who profess “faith,” but it is not there to be seen in obedience.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone would claim to have faith, but not have works?  Could this “faith” save him?  If a brother or sister were existing naked and were lacking daily food, and someone among you were to speak to them, “Go in peace!  Warm yourselves and fill yourselves with food!” and would not give them their bodily needs, what good is it?  Therefore, this “faith” by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

Lord, it is often easier for me to profess my faith in you, than to live faithfully before you in my relationships with others.  Help me to be faithful “in heart” and “in hand.”  Amen.

*This post is a follow up to a comment and response on the post of 10/2/23 on holiness and perfection that developed the previous post of 9/25/23 on Psalm 24 about perfection and seeking God.