Practical Atheism

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” (James 2:14-19 NIV)

One of the dangers of growing up in a nation or a family where the Christian faith is embraced is assuming that because you acknowledge believing in certain things, therefore you are a Christian.  Polls suggest nearly three-quarters of Americans believe Jesus to be the Son of God. Do we then conclude that 75% of the country is committed to Jesus? Only if you take them at their word.  What we know when we look around is a lot of people say they believe, but live as if they don’t.

James writes of the absurdity of claiming belief and living a life void of any evidence of it.  Driving home this absurdity, he compares such people with the demons, who, while they believe in Jesus, have no allegiance to Him.  

It is relatively easy to proclaim belief, but it is a whole different matter to live in such a way that validates that belief.  Those who followed Jesus in the New Testament Church didn’t just have a set of beliefs, but sought to live them out in their daily lives.  Did they often fall short?  Of course, but they fell short while actually attempting to live them out. Today it seems we are often content with having a set of beliefs.  

Do we believe in helping the poor?  Do we believe in helping our neighbor?  Do we believe in the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit? Do we believe Jesus is truly Lord of our lives?  And do we believe He will one day return in glory and judgment?  If so, do these beliefs have any impact on our daily lives or are we just practical atheists, claiming belief, but living as if we have none, or at least no commitment to it?

Today, consider what you say you believe and then compare that with how you live out your daily life.  If you say you are a Christian, does your life reflect that, or does it resemble more closely those of whom have no allegiance to Jesus?

© Jim Musser 2015