"If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James 2:15-17
I have always
wondered why Missouri was called the "show me" state. I poked around a little bit, but I'm not sure that I came up with a conclusive answer. Here's a sample of what I found though:
This most widely recognized nickname for Missouri was in use in the late 1890s. It's not known exactly where or how this nickname originated.
The most popular story regarding this nickname revolves around remarks made by United
States Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver who served as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Vandiver, a scholar, writer and lecturer with a passing resemblance to Mark Twain, was speaking to Philadelphia's Five O'Clock Club. Questioning the accuracy of an earlier speaker's remarks he concluded "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show
me."
Regardless of its origin, the nickname has stuck and can be found on Missouri license plates. It has come to represent Missourians as stalwart, perhaps somewhat stubborn and with a dedication to common sense. *
There are a good number of other anecdotes concerning Missouri's use of the phrase "show me," but you get the picture.
The passage in James that I
referenced above talks about a "show me" type of Christianity. James is one of my favorite books, because it puts actual "teeth" into what it means to be a Christian who practices what they preach. It's one thing to SAY that you are a Christian. It's quite another to actually BE one that lives out their faith in a way that people can tangibly see, hear, feel, and experience.
"I'm a Christian" rolls off the tongue pretty easily. Many people actually
believe that it has everything to do with only WHAT you believe in and mentally ascribe to. The book of James pushes back a little on that notion and takes it a HUGE step forward; true faith actually ACTS upon what it says that it believes in.
True faith touches the lives of others.
- It holds the hands of the sick and dying.
- It sings a song to the infant that you're holding, so that a single mother can enjoy hearing a sermon in the church that you attend.
- It visits the nursing home, and pays attention to people who desperately need companions.
- It seeks to understand a troubled, angry teenage kid dressed in Goth clothing, and sees past the facade of darkness that hides the
desperation.
True faith...works! It works to bring aid and comfort into the lives of those who may not believe that there's much left that they can trust in. It punches through the blackness of human hurt, struggle, and pain...and gives without expecting a payback...and then it gets up the next day and does it all over again!
True faith CAN NEVER be possible without some divine work in our hearts. We're
naturally selfish, and "me first" almost always bubbles to the surface if left unchecked. A life-altering faith however, can have an impact on almost any person that we encounter.
It can't be "put on."
It can't be "contrived."
"True faith" is the real deal...and it's more attractive than a boatload of pontificating and sermonizing.
"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
"Lord, help me to walk in sync with You today. Grow my faith, and help me to step through the doors of "true faith" opportunities that come my way. Amen!"
Have a great day and God bless!
