Human beings or human doings?

I am sure we are all familiar with the concept that we are human beings not human doings, by which we mean that it is more important who we are and our character than what we do.

This idea came out of a desire to counterbalance the false thinking that we can earn our way into heaven or God’s favour by what we do. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone and is a gift of grace. There is nothing we can do to earn or deserve God’s love and salvation. 

There is another true but perhaps not so helpful saying that you can never do anything to increase or take away God’s love for you. This does not mean however that we do not need to do anything or that works of service are unimportant.

God’s love towards us is constant and never fails. Nothing we say or do changes this but times spent with Jesus increase our awareness of that love. This is never wasted time. It is in this place of intimacy that we both receive and give love. It is here that we can be honest with God and ourselves and let him bring healing and freedom from sin.  It is here that we hear from him, we learn and are inspired and it is from here that our works of love and service flow.

Some believers in the early Church were convinced they did not need to do anything as long as they had faith. James, the Lord’s brother, had something to say about that.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. James 2: 14 – 18

James firmly shows that out faith needs actions.

In everything Jesus is our example  - God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. Acts 10: 38

Jesus had the most intimate relationship with the Father but he showed his love for others by what he did and so must we. He loved them through teaching but also through signs, wonders and miracles. Jesus expressed his love to the tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners – so must we.

The amazing statement ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’ (Luke 19: 10) was spoken in the context of Jesus visiting Zacchaeus, the tax collector who was fond of stealing from people.  Jesus showed his love by coming to Zacchaeus’ home. Many criticised his actions but Jesus’ life was one long faith in action one.

We are indeed human beings and who we are is incredibly important. Character matters but so do our actions, as long as they flow out of a love relationship with Jesus and not out of some misguided desire to impress or win favour with either God or man. Doing God’s love is a powerful way of showing God’s love.