Faith without Deeds is Dead?

Today’s sermon was a response to a question I have been confronting since speaking with a Reverend at the local Easter Orthodox church.
In any case, the base assertion is that Protestants water-down faith by making it too easy. There is no requirement for faith to manifest itself in our daily walk once we have accepted Jesus into our hearts. Today’s sermon centered around James’ assertion that “faith without works is a dead faith.”

Whether you agree with the assertion or not – I do, the hubby doesn't – I would say it is evidentiary that not all Protestants are watered-down. The idea that if a person is suffering and we do nothing we aren’t truly faithful Christians resonated throughout the sermon.

I know many Christians are known for saying “I’ll pray for you.” While most times this is truly meant, there are times when our works are more important than that simple statement. Prayer and works are required. If a person cannot feed his/her family, saying “I’ll pray for you” does little to meet the current need. Providing food and prayer is the response of faith.

Just a little “food” for thought on this fine Sunday. I feel like God is responding – now I have to pray what works he would have for us.

Onto the next question from that discussion – does God withhold salvation from those who do not demonstrate their faith?

Faith and Deeds

¹⁴What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? ¹⁵Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

¹⁹You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

²⁰You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[d]? ²¹Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? ²²You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. ²³And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"^[e] and he was called God's friend. ²⁴You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

²⁵In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? ²⁶As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

James 2:14-26(NIV)