#religion
Theology Without Action.
The dilemma most Christians face on a day to day basis is Passive Faith.
St. Maximus the Confessor’s bold assertion, “Theology without action is the theology of demons,” challenges believers to live their faith actively, warning that knowledge of God that lacks virtuous practice aligns more closely with demonic intentions than divine will.
His words underscore a critical tenet of the Christian life: faith must be lived, not merely understood.
Maximus saw the danger of theology as an intellectual pursuit that fails to manifest in righteous action. St. James expresses a similar sentiment, stating that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
Throughout Church history, there have been examples of scholars who were rich in theological knowledge but whose actions contradicted the love, humility, and self-sacrifice central to the Gospel.
Such a discrepancy, Maximus argues, reflects a distortion of theology, where it becomes self-serving rather than soul-transforming.
In the Gospels, Jesus frequently rebukes the Pharisees for knowing the Scriptures well yet failing to practice mercy, justice, and humility.
Though they held theological knowledge, they were criticized for hypocrisy, focusing on appearances and legalistic righteousness while neglecting compassion.
Consider a scholar who devotes his life to theological study but fails to show concern for the poor or act upon the principles of mercy and charity he espouses.
By failing to live out the commandment to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), he mirrors the empty faith that Maximus warns against.
The scholar’s detachment from real-life compassion diminishes his knowledge of God, reducing it to a purely intellectual exercise rather than a life-giving relationship.
St. Maximus highlights that theology should lead to theosis, the process of becoming more like God through active virtue.
As 1 John 3:18 reminds us, “Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”
Maximus would argue that genuine knowledge of God must overflow into actions that mirror God’s love and goodness.
Therefore, theology rightly practiced means embodying mercy, forgiveness, humility, and service.
The Catholic Church consistently teaches that faith and works are inseparable.
Pope Benedict XVI articulated this in Deus Caritas Est, explaining that love for God cannot be separated from love for neighbour: “Closing our eyes to our neighbor also blinds us to God” (Deus Caritas Est, 16).
True prayer transforms the heart, compelling the believer to act with compassion toward others.
Without this, prayer itself can become a form of pride or self-righteousness rather than a pathway to humility and service.
This aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25:31-46, where he explains that the final judgment will consider not only one’s faith but one’s response to the needs of others.
Failing to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the imprisoned is equated with failing to respond to Christ Himself.
Acts of charity are a natural extension of a living faith.
By doing so, believers embody Christ’s love and actively fulfill His command to care for “the least of these.”
Practicing theology in daily interactions—showing patience, forgiving offenses, advocating for justice—aligns our lives with the Gospel.
This practical theology extends beyond formal acts of charity; it includes living with integrity, treating others with dignity, and making ethical choices that reflect our faith.
Regularly examining one’s actions and attitudes ensures that knowledge of God remains dynamic, leading to greater humility and selflessness. True theology calls us to change, to grow in holiness, and to love others more deeply.
In the words of Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Faith that does not lead to action remains incomplete, and theology that is not lived misses its ultimate purpose.
