FAITH WITHOUT ACTION/WORKS IS DEAD!
FAITH WITHOUT ACTION/WORKS IS DEAD!
Last Saturday, August 16, 2008, Bangon! Bagong Pilipinas (BBP), an advocacy/movement for the moral, economic and political transformation of the Philippines was formally launched. It aspires/envisions to organize/exhort Filipino-Americans to get more involved in Philippine-US moral, economic/political affairs, applying 5 biblically-sound principles of namely, "faith with action/works", "obedience with free will", "leadership with a servant-hood", "unity through humility" and "love with self-sacrifice". BBP believes that with the myriad of talents, resources and abilities readily available to many US-based Filipinos, they could readily make a pivotal impact/difference in the lives of the less fortunate countrymen not only in the Philippines but equally important, in the USA. One of the basic tenets of BBP for eventual social, economic and political empowerment of the Filipino people is that each member is enjoined to put into practice one’s faith with action/works as such kind of faith could move mountains indeed. With even just a fraction of the more than 2 Million relatively affluent Filipinos in the USA joining BBP and faithfully applying spiritually sound values/principles, one does not need to be a rocket scientist to see that the possibilities are quite explosive insofar as the eventual transformation of the Filipino people's moral/economic fiber and subsequent development of a strong political clout whether here in the USA and/or the Philippines. Ephesians 2:8-10 states…"By grace, we have been saved through faith. It is not of our own doing. It is a gift from God. Neither is it a reward for anything we have done lest anyone should boast. We are truly God’s masterpieces, created in Christ Jesus to live a life of good deeds prepared for us that we should devote ourselves to them." BBP believes that it is about time for those of us who profess to be Christians to realize that we have been saved by grace/faith for a reason/purpose and that purpose is not so much to live for ourselves alone but also, for the sake of others less fortunate than ourselves. As exhorted in James 2:14-17, "What good is faith without showing works? Can that kind of faith save you? If a brother/sister in need of food and clothes comes to you and one of you says, "May things go well for you. Be warm and be satisfied," but you don’t do anything to address that bodily need, what good is that? Faith without works is totally dead." Filipino-American Catholic/Christians who have been rather apathetic or indifferent to the sad plight of our countrymen despite knowing the urgent need for such basic material necessities such as food, clothing and shelter and indeed, the equally important goals of social/political stability, are thereby admonished to get off their comfort zones/rocking chairs and think twice before splurging/losing thousands of dollars in Las Vegas or any other casinos or buying as high-prized handbags/watches worth more than a month/year’s minimum wage/salary in the Philippines. To whom much is given, much is required. In Ist Timothy 6:17-18, St. Paul further exhorts, "Command the rich of this world not to be arrogant or to put their trust in the uncertainty of wealth. Let them rather put their trust in God who provides us richly with things for us to enjoy. Let them do good and to be rich in good works, willing to share and ready to give." Indeed, if we simply keep these abundant material blessings for our sakes and that of our families alone and not readily willing to give/share the biblical portion with the less fortunate ones, then, we may be held accountable for our deliberate/inadvertent omission/neglect. After all, as written in Matthew 25:44, many Catholic/Christians, self-deceived that they are saved simply by faith alone without the subsequent works, will ask Jesus…"Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked, in prison and sick and did not help you? The King will answer them: "Truly, I say to you: Whatever you neglected to do for the least of My brothers/sisters, you neglected to do it unto Me." And these will go to eternal punishment but the just to eternal life/happiness." And so the ultimate question is…Do we have the faith which could move mountains or the faith that is fake?…Di ba?
Atty. Ramoncito Poblete Ocampo, "Bro. Ramon", is the President/Stewards’ Servant of BBP. For details, please log on www.globalhello.com/bbp or call (213) 388-9925.