I believe churches should have stayed open during the lock down because we pray to God, not to government. If I had been sick, I would have stayed home, like always. If all the clergy had worked in unison, I believe the churches could have stayed open. I do not want to live in a secular society, only. My faith is important to me. This country needs God.
Eric, you should know that sozo means delivered. Always ask "delivered from what?" Not always from sin and hell. The 5 uses in James do not mean that. James 2 context is deliverance from being useless. Our faith should be profitable. James writes to believers (brethren) about keeping their faith active and alive and useful by their deeds. You are right that we need to live out our faith, but not so we will have eternal life. It is so we will be useful for God by doing God's work in the world.
The question I would have for you are "Are you living that"? Instead of standing there preaching human philosophy, why don't you read the text of the Bible and expound it literally. You sound rather like a politician using nice sounding words to promote yourself rather than the Word of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe the Apostle James would have removed you from the pulpit within 2 minutes of listening to you distorting what he wrote
You want to try to show him you can do better? I appreciate Him having enough freedom to speak out against all of us who think we can do better. Thank You for speaking for our Lord Jesus Christ.
