Faith over Fear?

James 2:14-17 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, 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.

There is something that keeps bugging me.  Something that probably doesn't bother other people.  I know this will be a bit controversial and that's ok.  I don't really see the point in the faith over fear challenge. That is putting a cross, with or without lights, in your yard for all to see.

There, I said it.  Now please, hear me out.

Since I saw the first post of someone putting a cross in their yard, I cringed.  Something inside me didn't like it.  I am a Christian so I am supposed to jump on board with the latest Christian trend, right? Not me. I have been silently protesting since the first one I saw.  We are coming out of the passover season which is the time when Jesus died.  Most of us have seen the Passion of the Christ. As gruesome as it shows the death of Jesus, it was more gruesome. The cross was a symbol of torture. It was a tool of death.  How has it been reduced to a lawn ornament?  

I feel there is a sense of reverence we have lost. The fear of God is no longer present. The cross has become not much more than a symbol. We see the cross everywhere, even in tattoos.  Do we even believe that Jesus, the messiah, came to Earth to die? Even if we believe He came to die, do we believe He came for every person? Even the prisoner on death row? Even the drug addict? Even the person that stole our parking place?   

Jesus said pick up your cross daily to follow Him. That would be today's equivalent of Him saying: "Pick up your electric chair and follow me." It's not pretty. It's not comforting.  It's hard. It is death. It is death to the things that come between you and God. It's laying down your life as you know it to follow Jesus.  I'm afraid most people who wear the title of Christian haven't really considered the cost. 

Counting the cost is so much more just putting a cross with lights on it in your yard. It's more than declaring we have faith over fear.  That's easy, at least here in America. In communist China, it would be counter productive. If a Chinese citizen put a cross up in their yard, within a short amount of time a government official would probably be knocking on their door.  The person may even be carted off to jail and how then can they continue their work for the Lord? I know it's a matter of perspective, but I guarantee a Chinese Christian would be known without that cross because it is written on their heart.

Do we truly have faith over fear?  Maybe counting the cost is not being afraid of putting life on hold for a few minutes to help the neighbor across the street whose husband has fallen and she needs help getting him up. It's not being afraid to go out for groceries for the immunocompromised neighbor because their life could be at risk if they catch the coronavirus. It's not being afraid to tell your lost neighbor about Jesus because no one else will.  It's not being afraid to do so many other things that we can't even do right now like visiting a nursing home or prison. It's not being afraid of bringing the light and love of Jesus to someone who needs it.  

In the same vein, I have seen the last week where Facebook users are posting their senior pictures in support of the class of 2020 because the seniors won't be able to have all that comes along with graduation this year. I started looking through my pictures and was going to post them. Then I started wondering if this, the newest trend, really is supportive of the 2020 class.  While I have enjoyed seeing the pictures people are posting, I realize this year's graduating class will not experience the things I experienced. It made me question: Am I getting caught up in the latest trend? If you personally know a senior, ask them what you can do to help them.  Don't forget to give them a graduation present.  Ask if they need help with schoolwork. Don't just post your picture and forget that they have real needs. 

I am not trying to tell you not to take part in either of these trends.  If God leads you to do it, it has its purpose.  I am not trying to be controversial which I know it is a little but I am challenging you to not get caught up in it without first thinking what you are accomplishing. My intention is to be thought provoking, not divisive. 

Our world has real and urgent needs.  The class of 2020 have present needs we can reach out and fill. The world has the need for a Savior. Is it beneficial to put a cross in your yard but not share your faith with your co-worker, neighbor, friend? My point in all this is simply this: Are we doing what really matters?  When you put a cross in your yard, what else are you doing? When you share your picture, are you supporting in other ways?  Faith without works is dead. 

My challenge to you is live faith over fear. (I am challenging myself as well).  Don't have a faith that doesn't have works. Let me be clear, works do not save us.  There is nothing we can do that will cause God to save us without a relationship with Jesus.  Works, however, are present in a person who has decided to count the cost because of their love for God. I encourage you to die daily to yourself and invite the life of Christ to work through you. Don't let it be a superficial and religious faith.  Let it be a vibrant, life changing faith that gives Jesus all the glory.

Trends come and go, Jesus is forever. Make a lasting impact.