A Short Interlude on the Centrality of Faith

In recent days, it has become popular to say that Christianity is a way of life and that it is more important to be good than to believe in certain doctrines. It is very important to Christianity that we be good, but we must understand, above all, that faith is of the utmost importance. It is faith that saves us. No good works will save us and good works alone will not change the world. Our goodness is a weak, incapable goodness. Let me repeat, our being good or seeking justice will NOT change the world. We cannot do that. This does not mean that we should not try to change the lives of individuals by common and uncommon kindnesses. We should give to the poor and fight for the oppressed. All of that is good and when we believe all of those works must come or our faith is null and void. But we must believe in God, the God of historical Christianity, who sent his Son to die and be raised from the dead as the first-fruits of a New Creation. If we do not accept the gospel, then all our goodness and all our hope is worthless. Our love is human love. Our love is not Love, it is not He who is Love Incarnate. I hope this is a reasonable explanation of the problem I see.