24. More Than

Meditations in James: 24 :  Faith is more than just believing

Jas 2:19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.

As we have been saying over these past few days, it is our belief that this matter of faith is one of the most crucial issues for the church of the twenty-first century, no doubt as it has been for the church of every century. The temptation, for every one of us who is a Christian, is to lapse into a belief mentality that is merely an assent to information. I can assent to what astronomers tell me about the planet Jupiter, but it has absolutely no bearing on how I live my life. I can assent to what scientists tell me about the structure of atoms and molecules and even smaller particles of matter, but it has absolutely no affect on how I live my life.

When it comes to the Bible, I have a feeling that there are probably many things which, if we are honest, have little or no bearing on our lives. Thoughts about the Millennium for instance. Different theologians have different interpretations about what will happen and so rather than argue it, which does nothing more than massage the ego, I’m happy to say, “I’m a pan-millennialist – I’m sure it’ll all pan out in the end.” Large parts of the Bible, again if we are honest, merely go to reinforce or confirm our faith which is why I always advocate read all of it. In fact I am of the opinion that we can meditate on any passage in the Scriptures and God will feed us through it, and in feeding change us. Yet, I will still maintain that some parts of the Bible will be more alive and vibrant to us than others. The New Testament will have far more impact on us as Christians with all of its teaching about Jesus, salvation and the life God has for us, than say Ezekiel’s descriptions of the new temple he sees in his vision. That’s simply being real. But again, there is a danger here in just absorbing information – ‘knowing about’.

We’ve focused on this one little verse today because in it James is making this further point here about faith – it’s not just about having knowledge. Now knowledge is important as I have just been suggesting, (and would never want you to take what I have been saying as a reason for not reading the Bible – read it even more!) and indeed without knowledge it is really impossible to have Biblical faith.  We quoted the other day, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” (Heb 11:3). The implication there is that we have been told through the Scriptures that God made this world from nothing, and that creates an awesome response to Him. That response is worship and worship is an act of faith. The writer later went on, “anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Heb 11:6). Again something in us believed there was a supernatural being, because that is how we are made, but when we came to the Bible we found it was ALL about God. The more we read the more we were convinced that He exists and desires a relationship with human beings, whereby when they seek Him with all their heart, they find Him (Deut 4:29), and when they find Him He blesses them. This knowledge evoked a response in us. That response is faith. The only question is, will we continue to let it evoke responses in us?

You believe that there is one God. Good! says James. Oh yes, knowing about God is a good starting place, is what he is saying, but he’s not happy for us to stop at that place. Even the demons believe that, he continues.  Why is he saying that? Well demons are fallen spirits who are led by Satan, and they are in rebellion against God.  God so permits that state of affairs because He makes use of them, but the truth is that they are not God’s children and they are not living in the blessing of God’s love and are not called to live by faith -  but they still ‘know’ about God!  You see what James is saying?  Even God’s enemies know about Him, but that doesn’t mean to say that evokes a faith response in them.  To the contrary, they shudder with awful fear, knowing that God is All-mighty and one day He will decree their end (Rev 20:10).  Oh no, they have every reason to shudder, but that is not faith.

Yes, you can have a variety of responses to hearing about God. It can be the response of the atheist, the response of denial, and for that the Bible calls them fools (Psa 14:1). Then there is the response of the agnostic which, when they hear, is, “Well, I’m not sure,” and so they sit on the fence and remain lost. Then there is the response of the would-be believer who responds gladly and receives salvation, but it is at this point that James challenges us for it’s like he says, don’t stop believing AND responding. Don’t let your Christian faith lapse into a knowledge thing, for it’s meant to remain alive and vibrant, a relationship where we go on hearing God and go on responding to Him. Make sure it is, won’t you.