My favorite kind of test is multiple choice (or, as it is sometimes called, “multiple guess”). “Fill in the blank” tests are much tougher. So here’s one for you: “_____ by itself, if not accompanied by _____, is dead.”
This phrase from James 2:17 is one of the many verses in which James “fills in the blanks” that exist within expressions of Christianity dominated by knowledge and belief. To the blank filled by faith (or belief), James would fill the adjacent one by “deeds” (or “actions”) of love and light.
It seems that there are few things more difficult in the life of a believer and a congregation than to hold both belief and action together. In contemplating the beauty and power of the Word, sometimes we build a moat around the messiness of the world—finding comfort in our isolation. Alternatively, sometimes in pouring ourselves into actions of love, we sideline the transformative power of the gospel message. Where belief and action, faith and deed, light and love intersect—there God’s Spirit blesses congregations.
The Gather Initiative (ten regional gatherings of our CRCNA classes/regional bodies held throughout North America during 2024-2025) taught us many things about congregations experiencing renewal. One of the most compelling lessons we learned was that in congregations undergoing renewal, concrete acts of love are combined with sharing the gospel. For example, in several congregations that have a significant ministry of mentoring in local schools, parents and children are receptive to the message of Jesus and are coming to Sunday worship. Congregations that are embracing community service (through food pantries, counseling, addiction support, etc.) are often seeing non-believers come to faith in Jesus. Christian love, displayed through concrete actions, draws people to the light of the gospel message. As God “fills in our blanks” with belief and action, lives and communities are transformed.
This is exactly what James had in mind when he penned those challenging words in 2:17. In James’ community there were those who argued that mere faith in the content of the gospel message was sufficient. Perhaps they misquoted Paul who wrote, “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Rom. 3:27). Whatever the case, James acknowledged a faith frozen in intellect was indeed a blank unfilled, a root bereft of fruit. Instead, a living, vibrant faith was characterized by care of orphans, support of widows, clothing the naked, and feeding the poor.
It's reductionistic to say that embracing belief and action automatically produces flourishing congregations. Why? Perhaps we disagree about what “flourishing” looks like. I don’t think Jesus ever said, “Blessed are churches with (big) buildings, (ample) budgets, and (plenty of) butts in seats.” Sometimes demographics, neighborhood turnover, and other factors play a part in what those numbers look like. But that doesn’t mean a church isn’t flourishing.
Faith must be accompanied by deeds, belief by actions, light by love. These are the blanks the Holy Spirit fills to renew our churches. And, if I might be so bold, these word pairs go straight to our core identity as Christian Reformed congregations. As Reformed people, we believe in holistic mission—mission in which faith is connected to action, in which word is combined with deed, in which demonstration accompanies proclamation.
“Joining the mission of God, the church is sent with the gospel of kingdom, to call everyone to know and follow Christ, and to proclaim to all the assurance that in the name of Jesus there is forgiveness of sin and new life for all who repent and believe. The Spirit calls all members to embrace God’s mission in their neighborhoods and in the world: to feed the hungry, bring water to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and free the prisoner. We repent of leaving this work to a few, for this mission is central to our being” (Our World Belongs to God, Art. 41).
May God fill the blanks in our lives and churches with light and love until we are renewed by the Spirit’s power.
About the Author
Rev. Zachary King is the general secretary of the CRCNA. He is a member of Cascade Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.
