Training with a Purpose

“You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.” –James 2:20-22

I’ve got to confess that I have become quite interested in a few new Discovery Channel shows. Two of my favorites are Factory Made and How It’s Made—they’re really the same. So far tonight I’ve learned how potato chips and combines are made. Now, that’s knowledge that will come in useful. It’s a little bit like sitting in on the most exciting parts of on the job training without ever having to work. Which got me thinking, could you imagine how frustrating it would be for a boss to train an employee for a full week and then for them to not act like they knew what they were doing when they started out on their own? It would be painful!

But think about how our church culture often works. We teach and train people each week through worship, small groups, classes, etc. While these activities are much more than just training, that is certainly a vital part of them. But the faith is really not complete until we actually do something to live it out.

What is your attitude towards church? Is it just a place to learn, or is it a place that teaches you to put your faith in action? God desires that we serve both inside and outside the church, and the best training for service comes from the Word of God. When we put what we have learned to work in our lives, we will begin to see our faith being made complete as well.