But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.”  Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.  (James 2:18)

Let’s just put this whole “faith vs. works” thing to bed once and for all.  James is right:  They are inextricably connected, organically connected, part of a whole.  “By our works we will show our faith.”  Works that aren’t an outgrowth of faith will eventually burn out, and faith that has no works isn’t really a Jesus kind of faith at all.

Have you noticed that generally when people go on mission trips their own faith is strengthened?  Their “works” enhance their “faith.”  Their works often deepen their faith.  Both are catalytic: faith generates actions and actions deepen faith.

As I say, let’s go with James and never again separate these two which are inextricably united as one.