“But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.” James 2:18 NRSV 

Rev. Kris Mutzenberger, northeast district superintendent of the Dakotas Conference.

On a return flight from North Carolina, my seat mate, a young woman who clearly had no intention of having conversation given her earbuds and gazing out the window, brought out a notebook after takeoff. A quick glance after she was so intently bent over and writing revealed that she was doing math homework, geometry proofs. She showed all the steps to answer the problems she was assigned. Showing our work is how we prove that we know how to arrive at the correct answer. Prove it. Show me your work. How do you prove your faith?  What does a faith proof look like? 

In the letter that James writes, he makes it abundantly clear that actions are the proof of internal faith. “Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves (1:22).” “You will be blessed in your doing(1:25).” “Religion that is pure is this: to care for orphans and widows…(1:27)” “you will do well if you really fulfill the law according to scripture, you shall love your neighbor as yourself (2:8).” “What good is it, my brothers and sisters if you say you have faith but do not have works (2:14)?”  “Faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead (2:17).” You cannot separate the internal transformation that belief in Jesus brings from outward actions. 

John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, brings together the interconnected rhythm of the inward and outward expressions of faith, in what he described as personal piety (works of piety) and social holiness (works of mercy). As United Methodists, our expression of faith is linked to both our personal connection to growing in love of God and our social connection in loving our neighbors, which comes directly from Jesus’ teaching on the Great Commandment:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37-40

We cannot separate internal belief in Jesus from how we conduct ourselves in the world. United Methodists are faithfully loving God (works of piety) in ways like scripture study, prayer, worship, fasting and sacraments and loving our neighbors (works of mercy) through advocacy, providing for basic needs, caring for strangers, visiting those in prison, etc. Both these things, works of piety and works of mercy, are important and essential movements of Christian life and experiencing God’s grace in the Wesleyan Way. 

So how do we prove our faith?  How do we show that we have faith in Jesus? Action. Our faith is intricately tied to action as we love God, love others and love ourselves. Works of piety and works of mercy are how we live our faith as United Methodists seeking to become more and more like Christ. So may you prove it by: deeply connecting with God and boldly loving all those you encounter.

In Ministry Together,

Kris