From the Pulpit: Faith that gets its hands dirty
Most of us learned about faith in a church pew. We sang about it. We heard sermons on it. We nodded along when the pastor said, “Just trust God.” But James, the brother of Jesus, didn’t let faith stay comfortable in a pew. He dragged it out into the street.
We tend to think of faith as an internal thing. A warm conviction in the chest, and a quiet confidence that God is in control. And yes, faith absolutely starts there. But James pushes back on the idea that faith can stay there.
He writes in James 2:17, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
That’s a strong word – dead. Not “incomplete.” Not “a work in progress.” Dead.
James isn’t saying we earn our salvation by doing good things. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). What James is saying is this: real faith always shows up somewhere. It moves your feet, opens your hands, and changes how you treat people.
James gives us a beautiful picture of the kind of faith God honors. He points to Abraham, who trusted God enough to act on that trust, even when it made no earthly sense. He points to Rahab, a woman with a complicated past who acted boldly on what she believed. Neither of them was perfect. But both of them moved. That’s the pattern. God’s people hear the truth, believe the truth, and then live differently because of it.
Here’s what James is really asking you: Is your faith leaving a mark on the world around you? It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It might look like:
• Checking on a neighbor who’s been quiet lately.
• Choosing honesty in a moment when a small lie would be easier.
• Sitting with someone who is grieving ... not to fix it, but just to be there.
James 1:27 calls this “pure and undefiled religion.” It’s caring for the vulnerable and keeping yourself untangled from the world’s values. If your faith feels dry or distant lately, here’s a gentle suggestion: do something with it. Serve somewhere. Give something. Show up for someone.
You may find that faith doesn’t just produce action. Sometimes, faithful action rekindles the flame you thought had gone out. James knew what he was talking about. Faith, when it’s real, always gets its hands dirty.
Gene Whitehead is a Bible teacher, writer, and missionary. He serves at Living Springs Church and writes at simpletheology.org.
