Stripy Six

by Stripy-Artist 

first ed. April 1, 2012

Last revised April 1, 2012

 Faith, by definition, is belief or trust in something.

  I think, that in the cartoon mentioned, 2 different,  related concepts are shown. One of them is a dictionary-type definition of faith, which would have been a better idea. The other thing mentioned was salvation by faith. These are 2 separate issues; and should not have been jumbled into one.

 This should have been done a long time ago, but the reason it persists is the schedule of Stripy Six. This is why it happened:

When I got home to my sketchbook, it was always nighttime during the week. I waited until I was struck by my muse, then scribbled down a comic, and then uploaded it day in, and day out.  I later made a commitment to overlay my chickenscratch calligraphy with a nice Blambot font. At night. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Not an efficient way of cartooning, I know, but it was 2 years ago. Not much I can change.

When the series was discontinued, I was not motivated to actually work on the series, outside of some minor window-dressing.   

I've decided to change it, now. I know it isn't enough of an apology, but

The main problem is thayt I have over-simplified the issue.

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your^[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my^[e] works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?^{[f] 21} Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”^[g] And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Here is what Romans 4:1-4 says on the issue.

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?^{[a] 2} For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”^{[b] 4} Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

They both say that Abraham was justified because of his belief in God. He did not have to do anything to be made just before God except believe. Neither do we.

Notice how James says "I will show you my faith by my works". Is this contrary to the passage of Romans? Not if you believe that all scripture is inspired by God, you don't. But how do they harmonize?

James is saying there's more to faith than believing the the monotheistic God of Christianity. It involves your "faith being made perfect by your works." Christianity is not simply an assent to certain ideas, nor is it "trying as hard as you can" to be saved by doing such and such. It involves a relationship with Christ, not by nature affectionate, but allegiance-based. Hopefully this illustration isn't too graphic.

Some people have what is referred to as a "shy bladder", and cannot produce urine in a situation where they are under pressure. Think of the situation as you believing you can make yourself be saved by doing a certain thing or you won't be saved.  You try and try and try in your own power, but your efforts come to nought.

Christ has given us a free gift, and nothing we could possibly do could ever repay him. He just asks that we believe, and that is all we need to do to be justified. He'll convince somebody to repent, change their lives, and be baptized when he knows that they're ready.

It was not correct of me to fuse 2 separate ideas into one comic.

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