The Faith of Demons

Out at the prison, we were discussing the famous passage in James about faith and works. During that conversation, I made an observation that I shared here many years ago. 

Here's the familiar text:

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2.17-19, 26)

The point I made was that, when we have the debate about "faith versus works," the "works" we discuss tend to vague and abstract. However, the works being discussed in James 2 are very specific. Faith without this specific work is dead. So, what is that specific work?

Here's the full context of the "faith versus works" text in James 2. It's long but worth reading to see the point being made. To help, I've underlined some critical lines: 

My brothers and sisters, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2.1-19)

The context is clear. The works being discussed in James 2 concern the treatment of the poor. And the point of the passage is also very clear: Can a faith which ignores the plight of the poor save us? The answer is, "No." A faith that ignores the poor is a dead faith. 

More, a faith that ignores the poor is a faith that is akin to the faith of demons.