gn_044

Faith is a Verb
by Pastor Bill Pevlor

How would you define faith? One could easily come up with several uses of the word “faith” common in our culture. Some use the word to describe a certain sect of religion, such as the Catholic faith, the Muslim faith, the Methodist faith, etc. The word could be used to show strong feelings of confidence in another’s performance such as, “I have faith in John to succeed at his new job.” The Bible uses the word “faith” mostly to describe an unwavering trust in God. Not so much a belief that God exists, that’s a forgone conclusion, but a trust in God’s ability and steadfast commitment to fulfill the promises He’s made.

One very interesting aspect of faith revealed in the scriptures is found in James 2:17, where it says, “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” The idea of “faith accompanied by action” adds a whole new dimension to the concept of faith. True faith will be accompanied by an action consistent with what is believed. As we all know, anyone can claim to have faith. Talk is cheap. A person with true faith will act upon it. James put it this way in verse 14; “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has not deed? Can such faith save him?” The obvious answer, in context, is “No.”

Any true belief will be demonstrated by the actions of the believer. If someone ran into your place of employment and yelled, “fire!” there would be a variety of reactions from the people who heard it. Some might panic and run. Some might calmly gather their belongings and make their way to an exit. Some might go looking for a fire extinguisher. All of these actions would be evidence that these people “believed” there was, in fact, a fire. These people demonstrated their “faith” in the warning by some action.

On the other hand, if there were a person in the midst of that same crowd who, though having heard the warning, peacefully remained seated reading the morning’s mail, wouldn’t that be a clear demonstration of a lack of faith in the warning? Any person who truly believed the building was on fire would respond in some way and not just ignore it. Inaction is the “stool pigeon” of unbelief. That’s what James is saying when he asserts, “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

I believe, if you could see faith in the heart of many Christians, you would find the faith they have is dead. You would see it laid out in a tiny coffin. Like a conscientious undertaker, great effort has taken place in the mind of the believer to make it look as good to the viewers (mostly themselves) as possible, but still, it is merely a lifeless corpse of remembrance. Like a dear, departed friend the remembrance sustains them and sometimes comforts them, but it doesn’t compel them to action. This long departed faith requires nothing of them. No effort. No fight. No action. Knowing that they have “faith” seems to provide some solace, even if it is dead.

God expects us to act in a way that is consistent with what we believe concerning His ability and commitment to fulfill His promises. What you believe affects how you act, not simply what you remember. Faith is not remembering what God’s Word promises; it is responding actively to it. We have got to move beyond an intellectual belief to a faith that motivates us to action.

If you would have asked the children of Israel, who were poised on the edge of their god-given destiny, ready to cross the Jordan River to possess the “promised land”, if they believed in God and the promises that He had made to them, I’m sure they would have all said yes. I believe they would have told you they were people of “faith”. After all, they had just witnessed the mighty miracles God employed to deliver them from 400 years of slavery to the Egyptians. However, when it came time to cross that river and actually put some action behind what they believed, they all (with the exception of Joshua and Caleb) chickened out. What kind of faith was that? James would have pronounced it dead-on-arrival.

Anyone can claim to have faith. But remember, faith is not purely academic or an exercise in intellectual gymnastics; it is always accompanied by action. You tell us you believe, now tell us what you are doing as a result of your belief. What tangible steps have you taken toward the promises you are believing for? If what you believe has not initiated or altered your actions, it could be your faith has become lifeless. If so, all is not lost. It can be resuscitated simply by acting on what you believe.

Back for more Good News

Victorious Faith Ministries
219 State Street, Algoma, WI 54201
Phone: 920-487-5775