Truth and Dare

What does it mean to be Christian? It is perhaps one of the most fundamental questions to come out of the last two millenia, and throughout those twenty centuries many have put forth their own answers. Is it enough to believe that Jesus was the Son of God? What if we believe all that Jesus taught? If we follow all the "rules" of Christianity without any sort of belief, is that good enough? 

I say that none of those are valid in their own right. Being a Christian is more than holding an abstract philosophy. A true follower of Christ is filled with faith, but living through works. 

"Without faith it is impossible to please God"  - Hebrews 11:6

"Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father" - Matthew 5:16

So which is it? Faith, or works? Is either sufficient. I say no. I am not the first to say this, though. In the Bible, particularly the New Testament Letters, we find multiple exhortations not only to faith and works, but the two together. Take note of this passage from James 2:14-18:

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,' but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also have faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, 'You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works."

Alright, so we know that we need both faith and works. On the abstract level, this works fine: practice what you preach. But, how can we apply this to our lives today? Short of volunteering in a soup kitchen or starting a charity, what kind of "works" are we even capable of in our every day lives? We all have other worries - classes, work, activities, homework - how can we be expected to add works to that as well. 

Well, as we've seen a thousand times, God often works by transformation. God did not cause man to sin in Eden, but he took what he had to work with and transformed it into the saving Passion. God takes what is in front of him and turns it to good. Why, then, can't we (who are called to be like God) do the same? Why can't we turn those "everyday responsibilities" into the kind of works the Bible talks about? 

Sometimes being a servant of God is found in the little things. Mother Teresa told all of us to "do small things with great love" and sometimes it is those small things that make the biggest difference. Something as seemingly insignificant as holding a door, noticing somebody's achievements, or a smile can work wonders. Jesus turned something as small as sharing a meal and turned it into the greatest act in history. 

So that is my challenge to you today. Have an unshakable faith, but supplement it with works. Make one person's day better, every day, by doing the little things. Perhaps they won't even notice...but perhaps they will, and it is those small things that are capable of changing lives.