Reflections of Faith and Justice - a Devotional by Benjamin MaysSample

Contrary to popular opinion, there is no conflict between belief and action. Beliefs are not theoretical ideas divorced from doing something. Beliefs always find expression in action. There may be a gulf between intellectual assent—merely agreeing that something is so—and action, but there is no gulf between really believing in something and acting upon it. It is psychologically impossible for one really to believe something and to act constantly contrary to that belief. It may be possible to have a temporary conflict between what we believe and what we do, but the conflict will eventually disappear. Our actual beliefs will soon be found to coincide with what we do. . . .

Knowledge is never ours until we have acted on it. It might be said that we know only that which we have experienced and our beliefs are confirmed only in actions. Beliefs are more than intellectual assent; they involve convictions, and convictions involve action. We believe what we do, and we are what we do. . .

If we say we believe that the life of each individual is of intrinsic value and is sacred unto God and if at the same time seek to exploit the individual and to take advantage of him, we do not believe in his intrinsic worth.

If we say that we believe in justice for all people, irrespective of race, and proceed to segregate, deny the ballot to, deny jobs to, and discriminate educationally against certain groups in the population on the grounds of race, we do not really believe in justice. A true Christian who believes in the fatherhood of God, the lordship of Jesus Christ, the brotherhood of man, and the dignity of every person and who believes that the church is God’s house cannot deny fellowship in worship to another Christian nor deny membership to one of the same faith. If Islam can admit all races to the mosque and if atheistic communism can embrace all races in its fellowship without segregation, certainly the Christian can do the same in his church, and it is wholly within his power to do so. . .

It matters not how unyielding the social pattern, how unbending the law, how terrible the possible social ostracism, the Christian who really believes in God and man will do something about his beliefs. He will recognize what so few people seem to see—that there is an area in every man’s life, however small, over which he has complete control. . .

If the Christian will act in those areas where he has complete control, his power to act will grow and he will be able to act on his beliefs in more dangerous zones . . .

Even in areas where the Christian does not have complete control, he can act on his beliefs. The man who owns a business can do a great deal by setting up a policy of hiring and promoting people on the basis of character and competence, never on the basis of race. Throughout the centuries men devoted to a higher loyalty have risen above their environment and have helped to transform it. Man does not have to be a slave to his environment. . .

The most unfortunate thing about many so-called Christian people is that they proclaim their belief in God and straightway begin to act as if they did not believe in him. Many of us will take few risks because we do not trust God enough. We are afraid of the consequences of our actions. We want to know in advance what will happen to us if we do this or say that. Too many of us allow fear rather than faith to direct our conduct.

I do not mean to imply that the Christian will ask no questions in his approach to social problems. I mean to say that the Christian should be less cautious than the non-Christian, once he is assured of the right action to be taken, because he believes that the ultimate outcome of what he does is in the hands of God. Unless the Christian can have this kind of faith in God, it is difficult to see how he can act at all in the midst of fears and a hostile environment. . .

Though not a professed Christian, Mahatma Gandhi had faith. He had faith in the ultimate triumph of that which is right. He believed that India should be free. He acted on the belief that love and nonviolence are stronger than hate and war. He went to jail for his beliefs and activities. But today India is free, and history will record that Mahatma Gandhi did more than any other one person to achieve independence for his people. He believed that fifty million untouchables should be able to walk the earth with dignity and live as human beings. He smashed customs and traditions and cast his lot with the depressed millions of India. He died of an assassin’s bullet. But the things he lived for and died for have come to pass. Untouchability has been outlawed in India.

About a century ago Susan B. Anthony was almost mobbed because she believed that women should be educated on an equal basis with men and that they should have the right to vote.

Paul believed that Jesus Christ superseded the law, that in Christ “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28. Acting on this conviction and others, he suffered and died for the Christian cause. And yet Christianity’s spread in history and in the world owes more to Paul than to any other individual.

Jesus had such faith. There can hardly be any doubting the fact that after nineteen long centuries, he is the one sure guide to salvation in this world and in the next. He points the way that leads men to brotherhood and nations to world peace.

- Excerpt from “Seeking to be Christian in Race Relations” by Benjamin E. Mays, Chapter 5 and 8