Living Works

I was in a discussion this week with a Church leader in Europe, about faith and works. One needs to distinguish, I think, between two kinds of connection between faith and works -- and it is important for the life of a Church. I find it difficult to put into words. 

1. One may do works in the faith that God's commandments are true, or 
2. One may do works because one's faith shapes them. 

A real example of the latter. A local businessman was receiving a businessman from overseas, to negotiate a deal. His office was small, and he was afraid he would not impress. So he arranged an office swap with another businessman, to make an impression on his visitor. His wife said: "Honey, you don't need that. If you believe in the power of Jesus, you will get the deal with your small office and all." If she had taken the first option above, she might have said: "God says do not bear false witness, and in faith we take His word as authoritative." OBSERVATION: So often, the life has gone out of Christian ethics. My friend comments: "Without even being aware, the Western church has been fairly well secularised."