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There’s a popular debate about Paul and James and whether they contradict each other regarding faith and works. I’m not going to get into that except to say two things: 1) No, they don’t and 2) We’re not asking the right questions if that becomes a point of emphasis. We shouldn’t be asking “Do I pick faith or works?” but rather “If I have faith, what do I do with it?” In other words, “How do I make my faith work?”

This is obviously a massive question. I have an entire dissertation with this idea as one of the theological foundations, and I barely scratched the surface. However, I can share one of the concepts I used:

“Andrew Root [answers this question through] “Christopraxis” in his book of the same name: “Christopraxis practical theology of the cross … [claims] ministry directs human action as a response to the nature of divine action.” Root frames his ministry and active role in God’s kingdom in response to the very real action of God’s sacrifice of Jesus in this world. In Root’s words, “What ought to happen now that we have experienced the event of God’s encounter?” If we believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and altered the course of human history, then how should we respond? To steal a concept from Newton, if you believe an action took place––Christ died for you––then what is the proper reaction?”

So…for you and your family, what is the proper reaction? The answer is some form of what I called “enacted faith.” Our faith in Christ compels us to act, to respond, to do something. It’s why our hearts ache when we learn of tragedy and there’s a compulsion to help, why church work days in 100+º days seem to energize us instead of sap our strength, why doing good for others seems to somehow also do good for us. Our souls are fed by the daily work of changing this world more and more into the image of the Kingdom of God because Christ acted on our behalf first.

As we approach the finish line of this school year, let that question guide you. If Christ died for me, then what? Let your faith come alive, and see how the world changes for good!

Dr. Jason Henderson
Secondary Education Principal
Logos Preparatory Academy