Hearers or Doers

James 1:22-27

James 2:14-26

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This is where the rubber meets the road. James is absolutely adamant that faith without corresponding works is dead. This is where Martin Luther took exception to James and referred to James as “an epistle full of straw.” Luther assumed that James was contradicting Paul’s conviction that we are saved by faith, not by works. However, Paul was talking about adherence to the law, not works of mercy and grace.

Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life. (Italics added) We do not earn salvation by doing good works or adhering to the law of Moses. We are saved by grace through faith. Having received salvation, we are expected to act like it. We are expected to show compassion, do justice, and walk humbly with God.

Jesus declared, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

These words from Jesus are directed at false teachers. The identity of these false prophets is not clear. They are opponents of Matthew’s Jesus. False teachers may be hard to identify because they feign signs of discipleship. Jesus uses references to good and bad fruit to refer to their actions and way of life. False disciples are good at hiding their true identity and disciples can have flawed vision. God’s judgment, though, is sure, and based on doing God’s will. This is righteous or faithful or just living.

Titling this series of devotions, “Hearers or Doers” creates a false dichotomy. It implies that one can choose to be either a hearer or a doer. The reality is, as James insists, one cannot hear and accept the word of salvation by faith without living out the commands to love God and neighbor as self.

As we have previously noted, following Jesus is radical. Being a disciple requires that we surrender every aspect of our lives to living like Jesus. It is difficult. It is meant to be difficult. It is not meant to be lived in isolation. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to serve as comforter and guide. Jesus calls the church to be his hands and feet in the world.

Saying the right words is not enough if they are not accompanied by loving acts of generosity and compassion. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (James 1:27) Faith is incarnated in our actions or it is merely worthless rhetoric.

For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.