Sacred Sunday Presents~James Chapter II/Faith vs Works, The Ultimate Showdown

Sorry, One-Percenters
Being a faithful person means that you don't favor rich people over poor people.When fancy folks wearing expensive clothes stroll into church, everyone falls all over themselves to get these hoity toity guys a seat.But when someone without a lot of cash in his pockets walks in, he's told to stand or sit on the ground. It's not very polite.If that's how you treat the poor—whom God specifically said were going to be part of his kingdom—then you are really not getting it, says James.
Faith vs. Works: The Ultimate Showdown
Remember when Jesus said that you should "love your neighbor as yourself"? He was pretty serious about that.If you don't follow his teachings, then you've broken God's law. And we know what happens to law-breakers, don't we? Hint: it's not pretty.Seriously, you can't say you follow God and then act like a jerk.Having faith alone can't save you. You also need to do good works to complete the picture.James continues: it won't help anyone for you to just smile at poor people and wish them well. Where are they supposed to live? How are they going to eat? If you don't help those who need it, all your pious faith and feel-good beliefs are dead in the water.These folks say, Hey, I have faith in God. You do the good works. Then everyone will be covered.Nope. Sorry. Doesn't work like that.Look, says James, there's one God, right? That means you can't divide out believing and doing. If you have faith in him, you'll act like it. Put your money where your mouth is.If your spirit leaves your body, you're dead. And if you just think nice things about God but never do anything, then you're dead, too. 'Nuff said.