Wisdom from James 5

 James 2:14-18  Faith Without Works is Dead 

Martin Luther in the 1500’s was ready to eliminate the Book of James because it placed too much emphasis on what he called ‘works righteousness’—the idea that God rewards us based on our good works. Taken to its extreme, such theology led in Luther's time to the idea that you could buy your way into heaven at first by charitable works but later by paying the church in Rome enough to put in a good word for you.  Such practice was called an indulgence.  Now some people indulge themselves or excuse themselves by the opposite. They think that good works don't matter, that as long as you call Jesus your Lord and Saviour, or support your local church, you can live however you want: despoiling the planet, hoarding wealth while others lack basic needs, refusing to accept refugees into the country, blaming the poor for their condition while voting to make sure they stay poor.  In the faith or works debate, it is not a question of one or the other.  If our faith is genuine, good works automatically follow.  If we engage in good works we discover how much we need faith and grace.