How to Demonstrate Faith

On our holiday we stopped at most of our destinations for 5 nights where we set up camp. With a few exceptions, we hadn’t really planned what we would do at each of the locations, so when we arrived we would often find the nearest information centre, see what the big attractions were and figured which of them we could fit into the time we were there.

Generally speaking, we were usually quite impressed by the various sites and locations. But there was one location which I had remembered from my childhood that I thought we should add to the list.

So, while we were staying at Maroochydore, I took the family along to see the Big Pineapple.

As we arrived, there it stood, big and proud. We promptly got out the camera to take that obligatory shot, and I must admit, as far as big things go, it was a fine looking structure! The paint job was good and the size was impressive.

It was after we put the camera away that we then took a look around.

Our first disappointment was in that you weren’t able to go up the pineapple anymore. But that’s okay, we can still look around at what else they had.

We did notice that the quite large building that surrounded the pineapple sat, for the most part, vacant. But then as we looked around - it became glaringly obvious what was missing - there was no pineapples growing!

I asked an employee about the absence of a pineapple plantation. He gave some waffling answer, but the bottom line was - they weren’t growing any.

We found something quite disappointing about this. As impressive as the big structure was at the front of the property, the lack of growing pineapples left us feeling that the place lacked any substance.

The Christian Facade

This morning we’re coming back into our series in the book of James, and as we come to verse 14 of chapter 2, I get the feeling that James has been met with a similar disappointment in many of the people living in the Christian community.

You see, we can put on something pretty impressive for the world to see. We can say the right words, be in the right places and become close to the right people. But James looks at them, and despite their impressive front, he must have felt a great sense of frustration.

You see, we can put on something pretty impressive for the world to see. We can say the right words, be in the right places and become close to the right people. But if that is all we are doing, then we have a big problem

This morning I’m going to call them Big Pineapple Christians.

I’m talking about the Christians that can put on a good showing, but there’s no real fruit to them.

Looking at others

Now, wherever you hear a sermon like this one, there is a potential danger for each of us.

You see, when I describe a Big Pineapple Christian, our minds can probably go straight to certain people that we know. And then as I go on in this message, you can then all nod in agreement because we know how Joe Blow sitting over there should really take notice.

But I want you to avoid that tendency. You see, while you might not completely be a Big Pineapple Christian, in that, you do have some real pineapples growing (so to speak), I think for all of us, there can be times when we put more effort into the structure up front, then we do to the actual fruit in the patch.

And so, as I explore the ideas that James raises for us in today’s passage, rather than thinking about someone else, I want you to be thinking, what changes to my life can I make to improve the fruit in my own patch?

Recap

First however, recognising that it was five weeks ago since I last stood here expounding on the earlier passages within James, there is a good chance that you’ve forgotten what I’ve discussed, so I thought it would be worthwhile doing a brief recap. I do this because the breakup of the passages isn’t necessarily what James had in mind when he wrote it, so fitting each passage into the overall flow of the letter is important.

Joy in trials

Well, James kicked us off with the topic of finding joy in trials. While the trials we face are obviously not pleasant, particularly when we are in the midst of them, but as James explains for us, they can be used to mould us and make us into the people God wants us to be.

Change through the Word

As we moved into the second half of the first chapter, James expounds on this idea of the change that can occur in us and how we shouldn’t just be people who listen, but actually doers as well. As we dug a little deeper into what James is saying, we also saw that central to this is soaking ourselves in God’s word.

Unfiltered Love

The last message I gave before my leave was then on the first half of chapter 2. We saw how James’ letter then narrows in on a particular change we need to make, namely to love others better. And so James helps us to think about how we can remove the filters we place when we look at others and instead love them like Christ does.

Into the next section

Now as we move into the section that we find ourselves in today, I’m going to suggest that he introduces a new theme in one sense, however in many ways it is a theme that becomes somewhat of a central idea to what James speaks about.

You see, in the first chapter and a half, James has bee exploring how we should look different. How we should react to hard times differently and how we should love others differently.

But while talking about acting differently, he’s also dropped in a number of referenced to faith.

Back in chapter 1 verse 3, he talks about the trials resulting in faith. And again in chapter 2 verse 5, he talks about being rich in faith.

I’m going to suggest that underlying all that he is discussing is that idea that you need faith.

And so, this being the case, it becomes important that he discusses exactly what the relationship is between faith and works.

Faith and Works

But let’s stop here a moment, and briefly consider what is at stake before looking at how James tackles it.

Interestingly, some of you might know that Martin Luther, the great reformer who 502 years ago triggered a movement that brought Christianity back to its true roots - well, as it turns out, he had a very low opinion of this letter we are studying right now. In fact, he called it an epistle of straw.

And the reason he called it an epistle of straw is because of this very issue. You see, in the estimation of Luther, James has lifted the value of works equal with that of faith.

Faith in the reformation

If you understand what happened in the reformation, you’ll understand why that is so significant.

Let me briefly give you a history lesson.

While the first couple of hundred years of the Christian church involved the church being a persecuted minority, the church eventually became very much entrenched into western society. By the time Martin Luther came onto the scene some 500 years ago, the church had essentially lost the Biblical understanding of grace, and instead made Christianity a works based religion. By that, I mean that you have to earn your way into heaven.

But Luther, along with a few other early reformers, had somewhat of an awakening, and largely it involved moving back to the Bible.

As Luther explored the Bible, he realised that much of the teaching of the church was at odds with the Bible, and top of the list was the place of faith.

In just 11 days, we will mark precisely 502 years to the day, in which Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the church door. These were 95 statements largely to do with the importance of faith.

Out of this came one of the little slogans for the reformation, which is Latin is Sola Fide, or in English - ‘by Faith Alone’.

You see, our salvation comes from nothing that the church can offer, but only our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Particularly during a time when the church was trying to dictate who could and could not go to heaven, Luther showed that the only real measure was your faith. You could not pay your way into heaven, and you could not do any good works to get into heaven. It was by faith and faith only that you would get into heaven.

Luther particularly turned to Paul’s writing which made this very clear.

And so, with this background, you may be able to see how when Luther turned to James, he was dismayed when he saw how James lifted up the value of works.

The problem

The problem is this: if Christianity becomes about works, then there can be no certainty about salvation, or worse then that, you can almost be guaranteed you won’t make it, because no one can live up to the holy standards of our Heavenly Father.

Keeping from error

Now, I’m going to argue that Luther was wrong to call James and epistle of straw. I’m going to argue that Luther misunderstood what James was saying, and that if we look closely we will see that in fact James was very much in agreement with what Paul spoke about.

But this does alert us to a real danger. On the one hand, we can think of the primacy of faith being somehow disconnected with how we live. Or on the other hand, emphasize the way we live as if that is disconnected to our faith.

The Pinnacle

On our holiday we went to Lamington National Park, and as you often do, you find yourself reminiscing about experiences as a child. Well, Lamington Nantional Park is on the Queensland side of the NSW-Qld border. On the NSW side, what is essentially the same park is known as the Border Ranges National park and this is actually a place my parents took me to on numerous occasions as a child.

In this national park, there is a particular mountain formation that they call The Pinnacle. It’s a very narrow ridge which they have a walk way along. While it’s quite safe, but as you walk along, there is a steep drop on either side.

If you keep to the path, you were safe. Stray just a little, and the danger is very real.

In some ways we have a similar situation here. If we keep to what the bible says, we’ll be safe. But start taking ideas out of context and we’ll end in significant error.

What James says

Thankfully James helps us negotiate this well.

Essentially what James helpfully describes for us is that faith and good works go hand in hand. You can’t do one with out the other.

You see faith is not a matter of saying a few words. Words are easy. You can make all sorts of proclamations - they can all be biblically true.

But that makes no difference. As James tells us very bluntly, even the demons can say these words - but it doesn’t save them.

You see, James is pointing us to a true version of faith. Faith is about allowing him into our lives and letting him change and transform us.

If you have faith but no deeds, then James is putting a huge question mark over that faith. Christ’s work is effective and there should be a difference in your life.

Works

Well, so far I’ve been talking about this ‘fruit’ in your life in a quite abstract way, and talking about works or deeds very generally.

If we are going to examine our own life for ‘fruitfulness’, or to use the phrase I introduced earlier, the extent to which we are ‘Big Pineapple Christians’, then it is very important that we actually understand what that means. And to do this, I’m going to use our passage before us - as we do, I am sure that we will all find some challenging ideas.

Well, James essentially gives us four illustrations to make his point so let’s explore these now.

Brother or sister in need

The first illustration James gives us is of a brother or sister who is in need. He sets this up for us in verse 15.

In this example he is illustrating what I’m calling a Big Pineapple Christian.

You see, in verse 16, this Big Pineapple Christian says lots of good words. They say, ‘go in peave; keep warm and well fed’.

Well, isn’t that just a lovely thing to say. Well, it would be, if they were actually prepared to do something about it.

Thoughts and prayers

There’s a little phrase that gets bandied about a lot, particularly after any tragedy. You see whenever a big disaster, people love to send their “thoughts and prayers”.

Now don’t get me wrong, prayers really are important. Not for a moment do I think prayers are just empty words, but unfortunately, that phrase, (sending thoughts and prayers), is one favoured by Big Pineapple Christians, because you can sound very caring, but at the same time, do absolutely nothing about it.

Now I do recognise that in many disasters around the world, there is little we can do. But that’s not to say we can’t do anything.

Firstly we can actually pray, rather than just say these empty words about prayer. Depending on what it is, there can be opportunities to donate money. Or sometimes we can actually support a cause that might help to make a difference.

But the example James gives us brings it much closer to home. You see, you don’t have to look too far to find brothers and sisters who are in need.

The big challenge for us is - what are we doing about it? Are we just giving them empty ‘thoughts and prayers’, or are we doing something real for them.

What James tries to make abundantly clear for us is that if you have faith, then you should be transforming into the likeness of Christ, and therefore you should be showing love to others.

Am I Saved?

Now I want to pause just briefly and make an important clarification. You see, it would be easy to read this and think - you know what, I don’t love people as I should. I don’t have the deeds that I should. And so, we can then ask the very real question - is my faith actually real? Or more to the point - am I actually saved?

Well, let me add that the transformation that Christ makes in our life is a process. We will not get there until the next age. So when you fail to love like you should, don’t become despondent, rather see it as a learning process, and allow Christ to continue to transform you.

Need to love others

But with this clarification in mind, what is very important is that we recognise that our faith should be producing a real love for others. We should be caring for people in whatever situation they find themselves in, and giving them practical help as much as we can.

Loving God

I’m going to consider the second and third illustration together. Because whereas the first illustration James gave in verse 15 was about loving others, James is going to show that we need real faith to worship God.

Demons

You see, the second illustration in verse 19, shows a demon that believes all the great truths that we know as Christians. But for the demon, they spell doom not life.

The point being, worshiping God is not just about saying the right words. When we sing the songs we do, anyone can say the words on the screen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you are worshipping God.

In the same way you can give empty words to other people, you can give empty words to God.

Abraham

The third illustration however shows us how worship should be done, and James illustrates this for us by highlighting the example of Abraham (which we covered only just prior to the commencement of this current series).

The example in Abraham’s life that he gives, is when he is about to sacrifice his son Isaac.

The clear point James is making is that Abraham did not just have some empty belief, but he was prepared to act on it.

Boldness

Now I want to suggest, that if we want to avoid being a Big Pineapple Christian, then we need to be bold for Christ. Like Abraham, we need to step out beyond what is comfortable, allowing the Spirit to guide us in ways that will be ultimately honouring to God.

The reality is, having a real faith leads us to some interesting times.

Rahab

I could expound a bit more on this, but I want to jump down to the fourth and final illustration which starts in verse 25 and concerns the Old Testament character of Rahab.

Now time won’t permit a full exploration of her situation, but just briefly, she was a foreign prostitute living in a city about to be destroyed as Israel claimed the Promised Land. A rather unlikely character to demonstrate faith. Interestingly, she forms quite a contrast to Abraham.

But yet, not only did she believe, but she also acted courageously based on that belief.

But yet, not only did she believe, but she also acted courageously based on that belief. She welcomed the Israelite spies which enabled the victory for God’s people.

Now the main point that I want to draw from Rahab this morning is her courage. The faith that came from God and was given to her, enabled her to be courageous in her actions. What she did was not safe. What she did was treason. But yet she believed something bigger than just what was before her. Her actions were a result of her faith.

There is a real challenge here for us. You see, it is so easy to play things safe. I know I can be guilty of this. Unfortunately my mantra can sometimes be: “Don’t rock the boat”. But in thinking like this, we can sometimes suppress the work of the Spirit in our lives. We need to allow that faith working in us the bubble up and produce something special.

This might mean intervening in a situation where someone is being poorly treated even if that risks you becoming involved when you were previously safely distant from it.

It might mean giving of your time or money, even when you feel you have no more room to stretch.

Conclusion

The danger I spoke of before was to think of faith in some sort of theoretical sense. But having faith is not about theory. Rather faith is practical.

That’s why you can’t be like the Big Pineapple which isn’t even growing any pineapples. Don’t work on the big structure up the front, work on the fruit.

This might not bring you as much glory - but this isn’t about your glory. It’s about God’s glory.

James is showing us that we need to allow that faith to overflow into action. We need to show care and love to others, even when it is at a cost to us.

We need to show real love to God, even when it’s hard.

We need to be bold and courageous. Not a courage that comes from within us, but a courage that comes from the faith that God gives us.

The statement that we as a church have adopted is Love, Share, Serve.

Well, I believe that James is showing us that this statement is firmly linked with our faith.