Archive for April, 2008

Why do Christians fight so often trying to understand faith and works?

Read James 2:14-16
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
It’s always puzzled me to try to understand why some believers battle over “faith v. works,” as though it were that silly riddle about which came first — the chicken or the [...]

Judgment or mercy? Happily, God has a way to handle both

Read James 2:1-13
“Judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
That’s a good thing, wouldn’t you agree? That mercy triumphs over judgment, I mean.
I doubt that any of us would be able to stand uncondemned before a perfectly righteous, [...]

God’s Word defines ‘religion’ very concisely with a how-to

Read James 1:19-27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27)
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
I really LOVE the verse I quoted above. It’s one of a few very concise [...]