A year of living biblically demonstrates that perhaps works CAN lead to righteousness

In Galatians 1.16, Paul went too far in categorically denying the possibility of so-called works righteousness: “a man is not justified by observing the law …. by observing the law no one will be justified.”  [FOOTNOTE: In his later letter to the Romans (3.20), Paul seems to take a more sophisticated view of the relationship between works and righteousness: “no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” Consciousness of sin can be a first step in a process of changing one’s mind, heart, and behavior, a.k.a. metanoia or repentance.]

I conjectured a couple of years ago that works can indeed lead to righteousness because “a doubter’s good deeds can shape his thinking and help lead him to faith.” A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible, makes a similar point, according to a piece in today’s Houston Chronicle:

Jacobs gleaned important lessons, including this: Changing your behavior can change your heart. If you force yourself to act more decently, you can, to some extent, change your inner self, purify the moral wellsprings. You become a better person.

“It’s almost like the spiritual version of ‘fake it till you make it,’ ” Jacobs said. “It’s fascinating. The outside affects the inside.”

So yes, he is a different man from the one who embarked on Project Bible on Sept. 1, 2005.

“Of all the immersion projects I’ve done, this was by far the most transforming and, to me, profound,” he said. He’s learned to focus “on the hundred little things that go right in a day and not the three or four things that go wrong.” He’s more grateful for what he has.

A self-described workaholic, he’s become a fan of the Sabbath, now spending the day with his family instead of trolling through his e-mail.

He’s come to see life as less about rights and entitlements and more about responsibilities.

Fritz Lanham, Following the rules, then changed by them – Author says literal adherence to Bible’s dictates has made him a better person, Houston Chronicle, Sat. Oct. 13, 2007, at F1 col. 2 (emphasis added).