: The academic provides us with nothing more
: than the verbal diarrhea of those who dwell
: in a world of words, whereas actions that
: address real needs manifests the presence of
: The Spirit, alive in all who sacrifice for
: the needs of those in need.
James 2 goes on to give a specific example of what a faithful deed looks like. And it certainly is hard to see this particular deed being ordered to 'the needs of one in need':
Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
This example is then shown to be comparable with another:
25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
I think the theologian holed up in a room writing beautiful insights regarding the sacred mysteries also loves God in faith and in deed and that it takes a certain type of prejudice to miss that, especially in the light of James 2.
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