(James 2:18–26)
Gospel of No! 5:
What Exactly Does Testing Do for Faith*?
There’s a scene I always remember from Indiana Jones and
the Last Crusade. Indiana is being compelled to lead the way through an
ancient temple when he comes upon what appears to be a deep chasm. Following
his clue to “make a leap of faith,” he jumps out into the center of the chasm,
only to land on a cleverly camouflaged bridge. Crossing safely to the other
side, he scatters dust on the bridge so that the others can follow easily. What
do you think about the scene?
Did Indiana know about the bridge?
Did he leap out of faith?
Did the others have faith in the bridge?
In the passage from James 2, we find the author struggling to show how faith differs from mere belief. What’s his conclusion?
How does one show faith apart from works?
Consider the two stories James tells and the story of Job we mentioned before. What is similar about the times these people showed their faith?
When is the only time faith is manifest (James would say “perfected”), and why?
What story do you have of an occasion when your faith showed? What sort of time was it?
* “Faith” as a trusting response to some truth, such as God’s love and power, as opposed to membership in some group or profession of some doctrine.
(c)2007 M Richter