Get off the faith-couch and do something! (James 2)

James 2 seems to be usually cited for the passage that "faith without works is dead".  I'll unpack that a bit shortly.

But James 2 also focuses on the problems of favoritism.  We should not show among people, rich or poor.  James uses an example of a meeting where nicely dressed person is given good seat while a shabby-dressed person must sit on the floor.

What does this mean and not mean?  Well, there are legitimate reasons for seating arrangements and there are insulting illegitimate reasons.

Legitimate examples I think having the close relatives of people at a wedding sitting at one table and more distant relatives and friends sit at other tables.  An illegitimate example is requiring the 40 something brother in law who still lives with his parents to sit with the waitstaff simply because he embarrasses the family.

Likewise, it is common in business meetings where the important decision makers sit at the table while the people with supportive roles sit on the edges of the room.  That would be a legitimate example of seating arrangement uses.

Faith and deeds

The more famous part of James focuses on the contrast of faith and deeds.  James says that faith without works is dead.  Likewise, even the demons have faith and belief in God.  But that is not enough.  

Taken together, there must be some sort of life to the faith.  Otherwise, an abstract faith or abstract belief in God has no meaning and is as good as dead.  

In contrast, Paul says that we were justified on faith alone and we cannot earn salvation.

How to reconcile these?  What kind of faith?  I think the common interpretation is a genuine, living faith, which produces some "deeds".  Paul refers to these "deeds" as fruits of the spirit.

It is also important to note want James 2 does not say.  James 2 does not specify which deeds or the magnitude of the deeds.  This is contextual and rhe level of deeds should reflect the level of faith.  For that matter, the deeds (or fruit) need not even be external or visible to other humans.  This would be the case of new believers.

Likewise, I think it is important to remember the audience of James.  James seems to be addressed to people who are more mature in their faith, but who are ignoring the plight of the poor.  So, in that context, James is admonishing them that if they have faith, it would result in more "deeds" to remediate the poor.