Thought for the day – Thursday 30 April

Thought for the day - Thursday 30 April
Dear All
Yesterday in my ‘Thought for the day’ I referred to Samson as a ‘sunny boy’. Not that I was expecting anyone to pick up on the pun, but for your interest, the name Samson is derived from the Hebrew ‘Shimshon’ which means ‘sun’, hence ‘sunny boy’. If any of you did notice please do let me know.
For today, however, I would like to leave ‘sunny boy’ alone and refer to a TV programme I happened to come across recently. It was a studio programme featuring many representatives of the varying religions, and none, in our multicultural/religious society. It was hosted by Nicky Campbell and addressed some of the ethical, religious and moral dilemmas which face us today. Central to the debate was what people, the religious communities, believe.
Amid the discussion and debate, a Rabbi made an interesting observation and distinction that stuck in my mind. It was a lighthearted one but like many words spoken in jest, they often contain hints of truth. Just how truthful is what I’m asking you to consider today. The Rabbi said that one of the differences between Christianity and Judaism is this: ‘Christianity is the religion of creed and Judaism the religion of deed.’
A simple example of this was mentioned in one of my previous ‘thoughts’. Do you remember Golde’s answer to Tevye (Fiddler on the Roof) when he asked her if she loved him? The answer lay not so much in what she said, but in what she did, and this is the point. If our faith is all just a matter of ‘creed’ and no ‘deed’ then what is it? If our faith is just a matter of ‘deed’ and no ‘creed’ then what is it? Is it what you think, believe and say that is all-important, or what you do that is all-important, or is it perhaps both?
No one being treated by a surgeon, dental surgeon, doctor or nurse, for example, gives two hoots what their beliefs are. People are more concerned are they not with what is ‘done’ rather than what is ‘said’. It won’t be a matter of one’s ‘creed’ that cures but surely a matter of one’s ‘deed’. Jesus taught many lessons and parables about this. The pious ones passed by while the ‘heretical’ Samaritan stopped to help.
When, if any, was the last time before an operation or procedure or being flown by a pilot, you stopped to ask yourself whether you were being treated or served by someone of a different faith. Again, was it not more ‘deed’ than ‘creed’ that mattered?
I rather think there can be too much emphasis on cerebral differences. Theological niceties rarely concern many. During this crisis what are people concerned with? Is it ‘creed’ or is it ‘deed’?
It’s an old and familiar saying but true that we can be, ‘too heavenly minded as to be any earthly use’.

Today I ask you to think/meditate on these things.

God bless you!

Jim

JBoag@churchofscotland.org.uk

JAMES 2: 14-26

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 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? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

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. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.

You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father 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. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

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