PsalmTree

The Volition of Faith

 “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” James 2:26

Involuntary actions of the human body are processes that occur automatically without conscious control, such as heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and reflexes. These actions are primarily regulated by the autonomic nervous system and the brainstem, ensuring vital functions continue without our awareness.

Heartbeat	- The heart pumps blood throughout the body without conscious effort.
Breathing	- The process of inhaling and exhaling occurs automatically, although it can be consciously controlled to some extent.
Digestion	The breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients is managed by involuntary! muscle contractions.
Reflexes	Quick, automatic responses to stimuli, such as pulling your hand away from a hot surface.

We don’t get credit for any of it…it’s what a living body does. It breathes, thinks and feels…often independent of my intention. If it does none of those things…I’m dead.

The thing we don’t understand about faith is…it isn’t a “thing.” It’s actually proof that we are spiritually alive. And, faith has certain activities that give “Proof of Life,” just like our physical bodies. Moreover, just as with our human bodies, we don’t consciously initiate any of it…we can only respond accordingly. If our faith doesn’t involuntarily produce these things, it’s dead.

The involuntary activities of  faith are activities initiated by the Holy Spirit that God placed in us when we became believers. We get no credit for them. But we should be very concerned if they aren’t evident as “proof of life.” They are listed in Galatians 5:22–23…Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self‑control. 

There are two very real consequences to this. First, it is impossible to be careless of the need around us if our faith is alive; we will naturally respond appropriately because it is what faith does. Second, the world around us will always misunderstand us because they think acts of mercy and grace are volitional; they will interpret what we do from their human perspective rather than God’s perspective.

But, there are some things that cannot be misunderstood; if we believers ignore the hungry and the homeless we are suffocating the involuntary impulses of the Holy Spirit and, that’s a problem. We need to let God be God in our lives naturally and we can sort out our misunderstandings later. “What ifs” are not the fruit of  faith; they are the fruit of the lawless one. 

So, here’s the question; what is our faith doing about the needs around us? We can’t quibble over the source of those needs (bad behavior or bad attitude); faith is involuntary. If I don’t see it, I really need to ask myself…is it dead?

Live boldly out there today…