Prescribing works for salvation can be dangerous
*See Galatians*
I think it also runs counter to the nature of our creation, which is an expression of diversity. If together we are a body of Christ it should follow that different people fill different functions. It should perhaps also follow that as the body learns and evolves that different organs learn to provide different utility.
It would be like humans only ever using rocks to hammer and never learning other motions to shape or even join objects. But what if doctrine had interfered with the development of tools and construction and dictated that only hammering was holy and that exclusivity was required for salvation? How might knowledge have been set back as a result?
The same goes for works of faith. At least I think this is what Paul is getting at here. It is not for us to ultimately judge or prohibit works with a view to measuring a person’s worthiness of salvation. I think there is always room to examine works in regards to their effectiveness in spreading love and being a testament to Jesus’ values of balancing loving God and loving your fellow human. But we need to stay away from casting aspersion on the faith that those works spring forth from, or having a restrictive idea as to what works bring glory to God.
The thing is, I think for a lot of humble people out there they don’t even see their best works as works as all. The left gives so secretly and humbly that the right has no concept of giving… in which case, how are others looking in from the outside ever to discern such works.
Doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t smiling down all the same just because we don’t see evidence.
