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Do You Have Faith In Change???

By Raymond Johnson

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James 2:14-20

14) What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body what doth it profit?
17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone.
18) Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I hath works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19) Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the devil also believe, AND TREMBLE.
20) But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

As you read the scripture, James shares with us the wisdom that all faith isn’t good faith! He tells us there is a dead faith! Faith, without works, is dead! So, he’s calling us out and asking us…Are our ACTIONS aligning with our faith?

I’m on death row. If I took no part in my defense, how could I have faith that God would step in?

I have health issues; if I don’t pursue seeing the doctor and getting appropriate healthcare, how can I say I have faith to be healed?

My faith has to align with my actions/works!

God is in the business of common sense, nothing about Him is difficult, UNLESS WE MAKE IT!

Do You Have Faith In Change???

I ask you this a second time, it’s not a title, it’s merely a question! And I ask a second time now because *IF* you have faith in change…WHAT DOES YOUR ACTIONS (WORKS) SAY ABOUT YOUR FAITH?

I heard this statement today; people haven’t lost faith in God! People are tired of seeing no change in the people who claim to love/live for God! Wow! Wow! Oh wow!

We want people who claim to love/live for God to live a life that’s changed? I agree! I concur! But don’t just single them out for a conviction on their life that there’s a faith with the possibility of no works, which equals a dead faith! LET’S MAKE THIS APPLICATION TO ALL IN LIFE! LET’S GET TIRED OF MEDIOCRITY! IF WE WANT CHANGE IN ANY ASPECT OF LIFE… ACTIONS/WORKS MUST ALIGN WITH THE FAITH, OR IT’S DEAD FAITH AS WELL!

IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN CHANGE…WHERE ARE YOUR WORKS TOWARDS CHANGE?

THE DEATH PENALTY
INJUSTICE
RACISM
POVERTY
INEQUALITY
EDUCATION
BETTER LEADERSHIP
BETTER GOVERNMENT
PEACE
GUN VIOLENCE
WARS
LOVE (LACK OF)

These are our issues at the forefront of *THE WORLD*… where are you in your faith and your actions? Do the HARD work and look in the mirror and ask yourself … WHAT AM I DOING FOR CHANGE? AM I EXERCISING MY FAITH WITH ACTIONS/WORKS? OR IS MY FAITH DEAD WITH NO WORKS/ACTIONS?

We live in a world where people think KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! But KNOWLEDGE WITH APPLICATION IS POWER! KNOWLEDGE ALONE IS USELESS!

Now that you know better, will you do better? Will you be better?

Instead of looking at someone else and seeing a hypocrite… Look in the mirror and make sure you don’t see one! Make sure others don’t see one when they see you! Because let’s be honest, we want those who claim to love/live for God to be examples…WHAT’S STOPPING YOU FROM BEING AN EXAMPLE AS WELL?

KNOWLEDGE, *WITH APPLICATION*, IS POWERFUL…

GO *SHOW* THE WORLD YOUR POWER, GO *LIVE* YOUR FAITH, IN ACTION, AND LET’S ALL LIVE FOR AND BE EXAMPLES OF CHANGE! BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT OF CHANGE THAT NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE, SO LET’S BE THE EXAMPLES TO START THE PROCESS!

NAMASTE,
RAYMOND E JOHNSON
OKLAHOMA DEATH ROW

About the Author


Raymond Johnson

My name is Raymond Johnson, I am currently on death row in Oklahoma. I won’t lie and say I’m innocent! That’s not the case. I’m guilty of a horrible crime.

I’ve been in and out of prison all my life! In fact, since 1992, I’ve been free less than 3 years! This is my third bid in prison.

Never would you guess, I was raised as a pastor’s child! At the age of 15 my parents got a divorce, my dad disowned me to not pay child support. It was then I found out he wasn’t my biological dad. My real dad’s identity was kept from me, because he was in prison.

I rebelled, joined a gang, looking for identity, acceptance. At 16, I was in the streets, fully committed to that life, mad at God!

I started catching cases. At 18, I went to prison for petty crimes. I got out in 95′ and was locked back up 9 months later for murder. Did I do it? NO! BUT I COULD’VE STOPPED IT!

Rather than be a snitch, I took the case and kept my mouth closed! That was my dedication to that life.

I spent 10 years in prison. I changed perspectives in life, accepted my calling to be a minister. October 1998 I was ordained. I did Speak Outs for youth and juveniles from prison. I organized effective prison ministries for churches. I reached guys normal people couldn’t reach, because the life I had lived.

I got out in August 2005. I was preaching EVERYWHERE, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas. I was on the radio, on tv. I was blessed to get a Pastor job and still do music as well!

Spiritual wounds…Spiritual betrayals…

I became a mess! In my messed-up state, I found myself in places I shouldn’t be, with people I shouldn’t be with and it wasn’t long, in my mess, bad decisions compounded and I find myself on death row!

No one to blame but self!

My very 1st pen pal, Professor David Waas was a Church of the Brethren. I’ve never met such a man. He helped transform me with love, support, attention, direction. Even in my worse moments, I got the consistent, unconditional love, support, attention and direction. IT NEVER WAIVERED.

He saw me at my best and at my worse, yet he never changed! He never changed!

I became family. He became a great father figure. Not only did I become family, I eventually became a member of Manchester Church of the Brethren. I have Pastor Kurt Borgmann, Pastor Amy Ritchie and a host of saints because of our connection. So the love, support, attention and direction expanded. I found myself accepted on a bigger stage. I found myself with greater purpose on/in my life. I found myself with a great level of accountability because of that purpose and accepted love, BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR ME!

I don’t lie about my situation because I’m a testimony that nobody is beyond redemption!

I don’t pray and say, “God if you let me live, I’ll do this.”

My prayer is, “God, if you let me live, I will *CONTINUE* to live for you!”
My change is my lifestyle now. It is consistent!

As long as I breathe, there is purpose on my life, and I’ll live in that purpose. When I die…{FOR ME} To Be Absent From This Body Is To Be Present With The Lord! I know that WITHOUT WAIVER NOW!

I try to reach people and awaken Spiritual Eyes, for us all to be better, do better, be more inclusive and transformative.

We have to do more than speak change or think change, we have to *BE* CHANGE, SO PEOPLE CAN *SEE* CHANGE AND KNOW IT’S POSSIBLE.

That’s what helped me… and I’m paying it forward.

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