If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is around to hear it, does it make a sound? This famous philosophical thought experiment raises questions regarding perception and observation—if something cannot be witnessed, is it real? James forces Christians into a similar thought experiment: If we can’t observe a person’s saving faith, is it even there? And, even if it is, what use is it?
In the second half of the second chapter of his epistle, the apostle James presents three types of faith, only one of which adequately makes visible a Christ-followers’ otherwise invisible faith. Once again, James is holding up the mirror of the word of God (1:23–24) and encouraging his hearers to take a long, honest, and potentially sobering look to see if their walk aligns with their talk and their life confirms their confession.
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Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
