Virtue #3 Putting Faith to Work

Much ill has been done in the name of religion or with the support of religion throughout the centuries. So much so that, unfortunately, religionany religionhas a bad taste for thousands and maybe millions of people. The Crusades. The Inquisition. Slavery. Apartheid.

Too bad. Because much good has also been done. The third classic "virtue" in my ongoing series on vices and virtues is faith. Personal faith is one thing. But putting our faith into action to help other people, or to take a courageous stand, is truly a virtue.

This virtue actually comes from the first book of Corinthians in the Bible, chapter 13, where the writer Paul points to faith, hope and love (or charity). He says that these are the things that really matter, that have staying power.

Millard Fuller was a wealthy businessman originally from southern Alabama and a layman in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. He had everything he could want but his marriage was falling apart; disillusioned with wealth, he and his wife decided to pretty much sell everything they had and give it to the poor. Eventually Fuller started Habitat for Humanity. This organization has now helped 200,000 families worldwide build their own homes, one at a time.

Because of faith, Ricarda Alicea, age 79, cooks every day for 11 people. She is a Presbyterian who lives on the outskirts of San Juan, Puerto Rico, looking out for low-income elderly folks, a neighbor with a disability, and a homeless man. She also feeds a number of abandoned cats and dogs (Presbyterian Today, Oct. 2006).
Because of faith, Martin Luther hammered his deeply held beliefs on the door of the cathedral in Wittenburg, Germany in 1517, protesting current policies in the church and launching the Reformation (which is celebrated the first Sunday of November every year). For thinking differently, he was excommunicated and exiled (and started the Lutheran Church).

Because of faith, a mother named Maeyken Wens in 1573 was burned at the stake in Antwerp (then Southern Netherlands). Before her martyrdom, her tongue was first screwed down because she would not recant from sharing her faith. She was part of a movement which became the forerunner of today's Amish and Mennonites (Mennonite Women, Herald Press, p. 20).

Because of faith, a woman named Ya Martha in Sierra Leone stopped a riot one day. A group of people unhappy about taxes and drinking heavily, started burning houses. When the rioters arrived at her home, she offered them cool water. They accepted the drink, quenched their thirst, and went away. When Sierra Leone became independent in 1961, the new government appointed her as a women's tribal leader because of this and other instances where she was able to mediate in difficult circumstances. (They Loved Their Enemies, Herald Press, p. 62).

Because of faith, the beloved and world renowned Sister Mother Teresa of Calcutta abandoned all she had and gave herself to serving the poor and dying of India. She, of course, became famous for her work, but that is not why she did it.

And I bet you could list the everyday heroes and heroines of your faith group who quietly go about putting their faith into practice. They do not do this for reward or recognition either but because they believe that their faith compels them to do so. And because they wouldn't truly be happy any other way. Once again we find that practicing virtues brings its own reward.

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Contributed by Melodie Davis: MelodieD@MennoMedia.org Melodie is the author of eight books and writes a syndicated newspaper column, Another Way