Actions versus words by Gary Rose

Sam Elliott: A “Man’s man”, if I ever saw one (in the movies at least). The kind of person that says what he means and means what he says. In short, the rugged cowboy type. I can’t imagine him saying a great deal, but when he speaks, people listen!

I wish the world was full of straightforward people, but it is not. Sometimes people talk a good game, but when it comes time to deliver – NOTHING. Unfortunately, many people say that they are Christians, but their lives say a different message. And, then there is that passage from the book of James…

James 2 (World English Bible)

Jam 2:14, What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

Jam 2:15, And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food,

Jam 2:16, and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled;” and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it?

Jam 2:17, Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

Jam 2:18, Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

Jam 2:19, You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.

Jam 2:20, But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

Jam 2:21, Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

Jam 2:22, You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;

Jam 2:23, and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness;”* and he was called the friend of God.

Jam 2:24, You see then that by works, a man is justified, and not only by faith.

Jam 2:25, In like manner wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?

Jam 2:26, For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

To me, if you love God, you will do something about it. What each person may do will probably differ, but they will do something. Something that will have an effect in this world, for Christianity was never meant to be just a religion of just contemplation. Talk is cheap: Christian, practice what you preach. Jesus did; follow HIM!