AN IRREFUTABLE TRUTH

AN IRREFUTABLE TRUTH

Michael W. Niva

Christians struggle greatly over the erosion of what we call "moral absolutes." While we often focus on the loss of this stabilizing societal principle, it would seem to me that we must begin at home; we must begin with being absolute about what we believe to be absolute before we have any solid ground from which to contend with society at large about their own cultural drift. Further, it is incumbent upon us to see to it that our absolutes are illustrated in absolute action and not merely absolute belief. If our actions are not congruent with our supposed belief system, then it is we who possess no moral absolutes. We merely walk in what some historical theologians have called "mental assent," a certain cerebral agreement with principle, not necessarily followed up with consistent corresponding action.

This is precisely what the Apostle James points to when he states; "Faith without works, (corresponding action) is dead." If believers fail to follow belief with action, we actually expect society at large to be moved to life by a faith that is a religious corpse. This, I believe, is an abysmal injustice. How is it that we expect what is dead in us to produce life in others?

Jesus had an uncanny way of cutting through religious rhetoric to reveal the heart. In the parable of the sheep and the goats (see Matthew 25) He draws an incredibly clear line in the sand. (He did this literally once and metaphorically many times.) He divides mankind into two distinct groups; those who see the plight of the less fortunate and fail to act in redemptive ways and those who see the same plight and are moved by compassion to relieve human suffering. It is clear from the story that the sheep are in no way doing what they do to merely impress God (hypocrisy) but are simply moved to do what is good and right because they are, on the inside, good and right. This is revealed by their inquiry; "When did we see You?" This question illustrates that they possess no ulterior motive at all. They simply see what needs to be done and then they do it. They don't move forward redemptively because they see Jesus in the "least of these," but in spite of the fact that they see nothing but humanity in various states of suffering.

I've come to believe that much of what we do in a church setting is done in an effort to convince God of our deep love and devotion. That is all well and good provided that it is followed up by loving others as we love ourselves. If we fail to act kindly toward others when we have approached God in adoration, then we clearly fall in the goat category, in spite of the outward appearance of our spiritual devotion.

Each one of us will encounter Jesus today, hidden in plain sight, in the guise of some needy man, woman, boy or girl. How will we respond? The way in which we choose to respond, in either compassionate action or passive and unconcerned ambivalence, will point to an irrefutable truth; WE ARE WHAT WE DO, not what we simply mentally accept or verbally confess. Faith without works is dead. Faith which is alive works! Which camp do you find yourself in? For the sheep, we are promised that we will enter into a Kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Jesus will see you today. That is absolutely clear. Will you see Him? That truly remains to be seen.