Faith in Action

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." -James 2:17


I've had people ask me about what I think about politics and if the world is headed for collapse. What do you think? I put it back in their court. How many hours a day are we bombarded with news, social media, and much of which can be gossip? I am not saying to shut yourself in a room and block out all global communications. Rather I think it is important to be aware of what is going on in our world and how things are changing throughout history. 

The important thing to recognize is how are we going to react to this information and what is our role within it. If we start to stress that the world is ending and that one person is going to make that happen, we have lost all faith. We are just a dead leaf that is blown anywhere by the wind and ultimately piles up with all the others to cause a mess. 

So what do we do? Well, what can you do? What are you passionate about? Where do you feel that action needs to be taken? And I'm not talking about walking down a street holding a sign. I'm talking about using your hands, feet, mind, and heart to make a difference. Use that energy to build programs, start support groups, or volunteer. Why are we blaming one person for making the world collapse if we are not contributing to improving society?

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.” 
― Robert F. Kennedy

You will get discouraged, you will experience failure and rejection, you will want to give up. That is good, that means that something is happening! You are learning, growing, becoming stronger! Every mistake should get you more pumped to try again because now you know more than you did before. You might not see the change that come from your efforts...ever...but there is always a reaction to the action.

“It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

"Can we be optimistic about the future? What about the prediction that things will get worse before they get better? Is our obligation simply to hold on as the world collapses around us? What if we are invited to trust that God is at work in our time and that, even if we can't see whether the world is getting better or worse, we can cooperate with our Creator's agenda that we become better people who live out a legacy of love in a world desperate for healing?" -Mark Scandrette from Soul Graffiti: Making a life in the way of Jesus.

God has the ultimate power, so find where He is working and join in. He has given you the gifts to accomplish what He places before you.

“Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” 
― Catherine of Siena