Works has gotten a poor rap in evangelical Christianity. Martin Luther did not even want the book of James included in the biblical canon because of his belief in “faith alone”. We tend to lean heavily on Paul’s words and fail to balance them with James’ words. James lays a convincing case for faith joined to works in a series of illustrations. The first is being a well-wisher, hoping that this would count as faith, when no compassionate action was taken. It is very interesting that he ties faith to acts of mercy and deeds of kindness to meet human need. This suggests that a Christian’s faith will find ways to express itself in meeting human need; it is what people of real faith do.
“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 is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14–17 ESV)
