True Faith: A warning to a theological church

James 2: 14-26 says:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." - James 1:27

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" - Jesus (Mathew 7:15-23)

Brothers and sisters let me warn you. God is not impressed by our knowledge of Him and of scripture anymore than he was impressed by the Pharisee's knowledge. "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder." What God desires from us is to care for the poor and oppressed. "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." Jesus says those who will be allowed into his kingdom will be those who take care of those in need. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." There will be many who knew the right things and even said the right things, but did not love God and others in action who will be cast into hell. "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"

I share this with you, because I don't want you to labor in vain. If you are laboring to know the "right stuff" or to know the "right answers" or to do the dos and not do the don'ts you are missing the point. Jesus wants us to "love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all of our soul and with all of our mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 22:37-40)." We can not show partiality when helping our neighbor. James 2:1-9 We must not choose to surround ourselves with only rich friends. Jesus says, "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24)." When you have earthly possessions you become attached to them. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." This is why as a Christian we are constantly putting off the things of this earth and storing up treasures in heaven via good deeds. "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mathew 19:24)." In order not to serve money we must get rid of it via using it for good works. That is the only way to free ourselves from serving it and begin to serve God.

Let me encourage you brothers, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead...press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13b-14)."