Faith Beyond Belief: Dogma Without Deeds is Dead

Excellent points, although I take issue with the claim that beliefs are somehow unimportant. After all, righteous action can knowingly take place only with righteous belief. Yes, "belief" that is not carried into action is meaningless, or "dead," as James so aptly put it. And there are plenty of non-essentials of the faith with which we have broad freedom in terms of what to believe. An excessive focus on doctrine does tend to drift into legalism. All being said, right belief AND right action are important.

Clearly faith without works is dead. Faith (in the right thing) alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. If a person understood and rejected the fundamental things you mention, particular those about Jesus, he is not saved even though that person may be involved in all sorts of social justice things. In that case, he might well fall into the category of people mentioned in the gospels who, in the judgment, said (paraphrased) "Lord, Lord haven't we done this and that in your name." And God's reply was "depart from me...I never knew you." In God's economy, what one believes is linked to knowing God. As it is written, "After that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe;" and also "Whoever does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God." 2 John 9 God has given Christ, His "unspeakable Gift." People need to put their trust in Him. Acceptance with God is open to all people, but it comes only thru Christ.

It is sometimes good to avoid paraphrasing. The scripture you feature first is one that Jesus seems to associate with institutional creedists who say "we" have done wonderful things as opposed to the single individual that simply hears and obeys without endorsing the useless post-apostolic shiboleths of doctrines that only tell you who to burn.

"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,'will enter the kingdom of the heavens, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'

"'Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:21-27

Jesus knew that actually following him in doing his Father's will would provide the perfect insight into what was the truth about him. No theologian can teach it.

Cox usually does battle with a straw man version of fundamentalism that he invented because he can't be honest about fundamentalists and win any arguments about Christianity.

And as for being a doer of the word and not just a hearer, as James demands, Cox should look at the stats. His liberal wing of "Christians" who don't believe in anything spend all of their time in political action to have the state take by force from those the liberal don't like and give to those the they like. Meanwhile, fundamentalist Christians give their own money and own time to the poor. One study suggests that fundamentalists give 80% of all charitable giving and time spent volunteering. Clearly for Cox that doesn't count. Only political action counts for liberals.

It is trusting in Christ, which is a core doctrine. Apart from Christ, regardless of what we do, we are still in our sin and separated from God.

Excellent points, although I take issue with the claim that beliefs are somehow unimportant. After all, righteous action can knowingly take place only with righteous belief. Yes, "belief" that is not carried into action is meaningless, or "dead," as James so aptly put it. And there are plenty of non-essentials of the faith with which we have broad freedom in terms of what to believe. An excessive focus on doctrine does tend to drift into legalism. All being said, right belief AND right action are important.

Head belief doesn't count. Heart belief counts. Correct heart belief
on fundamental things like the deity of Christ etc is what makes one a
Christian (Romans 10:9,10) . Jesus said, "...no one comes to the
Father but by Me." (Jn 14:6) The potential for good works that count
with God (gold, silver, and precious stones vs wood, hay, and stubble)
stem from the work of God within His children. "Good works" apart
from the work of God are wood, hay, and stubble. Jesus said, "Ye
must be born again" because you must be born again; and that is
based on trusting Christ, which is based on correct belief. I get the
sense from the attitude toward the importance of beliefs expressed in
this article that the author of the article is a student of religion,
not a Christian, since the precious fundamental beliefs of
Christianity seem to be a problem with him.

I can't see his heart, but I can read what he writes, which I guess
would track with what he says. Scripture says, "out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks," but I agree, only God sees the heart.

To describe liberals as only interested in politics is absurd, and it sounds arrogant, self-congratulatory, and certainly not Christlike. Having worked with many different kinds of volunteer organizations, I can attest that liberals are out there helping those in need every bit as much as any other group you care to label.I do not understand how fundamentalists can first call liberals "bleeding hearts" and in the next breath claim they don't contribute thier fair share.

Please provide the information on the stury you say found fundamentalists"give 80% of all chairitable giving". If true, there must be some very wealthy fundamentalists around.

Clearly faith without works is dead. Faith (in the right thing) alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. If a person understood and rejected the fundamental things you mention, particular those about Jesus, he is not saved even though that person may be involved in all sorts of social justice things. In that case, he might well fall into the category of people mentioned in the gospels who, in the judgment, said (paraphrased) "Lord, Lord haven't we done this and that in your name." And God's reply was "depart from me...I never knew you." In God's economy, what one believes is linked to knowing God. As it is written, "After that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those that believe;" and also "Whoever does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God." 2 John 9 God has given Christ, His "unspeakable Gift." People need to put their trust in Him. Acceptance with God is open to all people, but it comes only thru Christ.

I wonder of the previous commentators have read carefully the parable of the Good Samaritan in St. Luke. Both Jesus and those hearing him as he told this parable knew that the Samaritans did not believe or practice the correct things. They were wrong. Yet it was only the Samaritan who acted correctly and fulfilled the command to love one's neighbor. So is the faith required for righteous action believing the right things, as in holding the correct theological doctrines to be true, or is it something else, maybe a faithful response to God's call (see Abraham et al)?

I see what you are saying, although Paul is in a separate category
from the other people you mention because his words in Scripture are
inspired by God. Salvation from the penalty of sin occurs at the
moment one becomes saved (indwelt by the Holy Spirit), the point in
time when one is born again. Salvation from the power of sin,
sanctification, is a process that God works over time on the faulty,
sinful person (such as myself) He saved in a moment of time.
Glorification is when we are freed from these "bodies of death," the
time when we are removed from the presence of sin. Good works done in
this life that count with God are those things that saved people do in
response to the in-working of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the
Holy Spirit. In Colossians Paul writes, "wherein I strive according
to His power that works in me mightily." Good works are important,
and God takes note of them, even in unsaved people. In Psalms it
says, "But to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the
salvation of God." Notice that "ordering your conversation
aright" (good works) are not the basis of salvation, but moved God to
show the person the "salvation of God," which is not based on the good
works, but rather 100% on the work of Christ. There is a tendency to
mix good works with the actual gospel, the work of Christ. Galatians
states that doing is a "little leaven that leavens the whole lump,"
and perverts the gospel. Good works are important, but stem from the
gospel. They are not part of the gospel.

.

I mean faith in Christ.

It is sometimes good to avoid paraphrasing. The scripture you feature first is one that Jesus seems to associate with institutional creedists who say "we" have done wonderful things as opposed to the single individual that simply hears and obeys without endorsing the useless post-apostolic shiboleths of doctrines that only tell you who to burn.

"Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord,'will enter the kingdom of the heavens, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'

"'Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 7:21-27

Jesus knew that actually following him in doing his Father's will would provide the perfect insight into what was the truth about him. No theologian can teach it.

Amen. Very astute observation.

That is why the Epistles in the New Testament are so important. Many discount them for obvious reasons.

Here is one that seems relevant to the discussion.

You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing -if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe what you heard? Galatians 3:1-5

I'm just pointing out what Scripture teaches. Scripture is the plumb
line for truth (Acts 17:11), and Psalm 138 states, "Thou hast exalted
thy Word above all Thy Name." God's Word is living and powerful, and
Job stated, "I have esteemed the words of thy mouth more than my
necessary food." Ultimate judgments are only made by God who only can
see the heart, and He judges perfectly and considers what an
individual has been given in terms of "light." There is plenty of
room for continuous revelation but because of the problem of sin,
connection with God is only through Christ. Once a person comes to
know God through Christ there is all sorts of ongoing revelation about
God, although His "greatness is unsearchable" and His "judgments are
unsearchable." I came to know Jesus Christ when I was 19 years old
after hearing and responding to the gospel message, and became "a new
creation." Still a faulty sinner, but one who was saved. Once change
I noticed at that time was that God's Word became alive to me then.
Proverbs says, "Behold I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make
known my words unto you." That was my personal experience. Jesus is
inclusive in the sense that His invitation is open to everyone, and He
desires that all come to repentance and be saved, but He made it clear
that He was the only Way. He said "no man comes to the father but by
Me." And also, "Enter into the straight gate for wide is the gate and
broad is the way that leads to destruction." Anyway, hope that helps
clarify my thinking.

Following His example should stem from becoming a Christian, but
becoming a Christian occurs when one becomes indwelt by the Holy
Spirit. It is something that occurs at a point in time although a
person may not personally know when that point in time was, or he/she
may know. It states in Romans 8, "whoever does not have the spirit of
Christ, he is none of His." The point is that sinful people (includes
all of us), must be born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus. It is
totally a free Gift and it only involves placing one's trust in
Christ, the One who died for our sins. If a person understands that
and hardens his heart against the message and does not trust in
Christ, having understood, that is a dangerous thing. People can
reach a point where God "gives them over" and let's them go their own
way. It says in Proverbs, "there is a way that seem right to a man,
but the end thereof is the way of death." What seems right to men is
that if we live a "good" life we will get to heaven. That thinking is
based on ignorance of how righteous God is and how sinful we are. God
has paid the ultimate Price to bring us to Him, and the offer is wide
open and the offer is based on Christ, not on human merit. Apart from
being indwelt by the Holy Spirit we cannot "walk the walk," which is
why Jesus said in John 15:5 "without Me, ye can do nothing." Having
said that, once saved, we should walk with Him daily and good works
should characterize our lives.

1 Cor 3 talks about a Christian "all of whose works will be burned up"
because they were wood, hay, and stubble, yet "he himself shall be
saved yet so as by fire." The point being human merit does not result
in salvation. Salvation is based 100% on what Christ has done. Once
Christ came into my heart, He has never left me, consistent with His
promise in Hebrews that "I will never leave you nor forsake you." My
life was changed after receiving Christ. For one thing the sense of
vanity of it all, the meaningless of life apart from God, departed and
never returned. My standing with Christ has been secure, not because
I am a good sheep (because I have many faults and failures), but
because He is a great Shepherd. Our standing with Christ is secure
because He holds onto us, not because we hold onto Him. If we do walk
with our Father, once we become part of His family, we can lose
fellowship, but not relationship. We are in His family because of
Him, not because of our merit. We stay in His family because of Him,
not because of how well we're doing. If we ignore walking with Him,
we may well end up as the Christian I mentioned in 1 Cor 3. Regarding
what Christ says to me, He says all sorts of things to me through His
word, which I read every day. I try to apply these things to my life,
but can't say I do all that well at it. I pray for people and try to
"cast all my cares upon Him" as He offers.

I don't know if you are "walking the walk" or not. I can't see your
heart. One thing I do know is that sinful people need Christ, God's
unspeakable Gift. I came to Him as a sinful person and He saved me
when I was 19 years old. His offer is everybody. I am thankful that
I don't have to earn my standing with Him by trying to maintain some
concept of a level of acceptability. Psalm 39 says, "every man at his
best state is altogether vanity," and Job states that God "puts no
trust in His saints..." I do not have what it takes to live the
Christian life, so I would never venture to say I am "walking the
walk." Jesus said, "apart from Me, ye can do nothing: (John 15:5) I
ask Him daily to live through me and then I go about my business,
cognizant of His presence; but I don't think in terms of whether I am
doing good enough. I try to honor Him, but if there was some
"standard" I had to meet, chances are I would fall short. We need to
get to know God's Word, and evaluate theological ideas from that
perspective. The Holy Spirit enables us to do that (1 Jn 2:27).

You may continue to follow the Way according to the writings of John and Paul and I'll continue to follow the Way according to the Sermon on the Mount. It's the effort that counts. God loves us all.

Effort is significant, Paul "strove" and "pressed," but what counts is
"Ye must be born again," because until a person is "in Christ," the
sin that clings to that person's soul still separates the person from
God. Jesus Christ paid the price for sin. If that sacrifice is
neglected, effort does not rectify the problem. As it asks in
Hebrews, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"
Just invite Christ into your heart and follow the Sermon on the
Mount. The writings of John and Paul and the Sermon on the Mount are
all the Word of God. There is not a contradiction.

Head belief doesn't count. Heart belief counts. Correct heart belief
on fundamental things like the deity of Christ etc is what makes one a
Christian (Romans 10:9,10) . Jesus said, "...no one comes to the
Father but by Me." (Jn 14:6) The potential for good works that count
with God (gold, silver, and precious stones vs wood, hay, and stubble)
stem from the work of God within His children. "Good works" apart
from the work of God are wood, hay, and stubble. Jesus said, "Ye
must be born again" because you must be born again; and that is
based on trusting Christ, which is based on correct belief. I get the
sense from the attitude toward the importance of beliefs expressed in
this article that the author of the article is a student of religion,
not a Christian, since the precious fundamental beliefs of
Christianity seem to be a problem with him.

I can't see his heart, but I can read what he writes, which I guess
would track with what he says. Scripture says, "out of the abundance
of the heart the mouth speaks," but I agree, only God sees the heart.

I agree. It's not what the evangelists say, it's not what Paul says, it's not what the Pope says, it's not what the preacher says, it's not what the theologian says, but what do you say and do? As with the Samaritan, if you look within your own heart you will know God's will and find Christ. Christ is embodied in the life and choices made by Jesus. Professions of faith or belief without attending to God's will not lead to Christ, or salvation.

I see what you are saying, although Paul is in a separate category
from the other people you mention because his words in Scripture are
inspired by God. Salvation from the penalty of sin occurs at the
moment one becomes saved (indwelt by the Holy Spirit), the point in
time when one is born again. Salvation from the power of sin,
sanctification, is a process that God works over time on the faulty,
sinful person (such as myself) He saved in a moment of time.
Glorification is when we are freed from these "bodies of death," the
time when we are removed from the presence of sin. Good works done in
this life that count with God are those things that saved people do in
response to the in-working of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the
Holy Spirit. In Colossians Paul writes, "wherein I strive according
to His power that works in me mightily." Good works are important,
and God takes note of them, even in unsaved people. In Psalms it
says, "But to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the
salvation of God." Notice that "ordering your conversation
aright" (good works) are not the basis of salvation, but moved God to
show the person the "salvation of God," which is not based on the good
works, but rather 100% on the work of Christ. There is a tendency to
mix good works with the actual gospel, the work of Christ. Galatians
states that doing is a "little leaven that leavens the whole lump,"
and perverts the gospel. Good works are important, but stem from the
gospel. They are not part of the gospel.

.