"I think we were being told a few days ago that faith is most important, but James says that it's no good claiming to have faith if you don't physically help those in need. Sounds fair enough to me."

Right. I mean, what good is there in God saving a person, only for that person to just sit around, and not make a difference in this world, showing people the love of God in act, not just in word! It's not right to judge the whole by the part. What I mean is this, even though some (many I suppose) people who profess they are "Christians" don't live up to this standard, that doesn't mean you should dismiss Christianity. You wouldn't believe how many Christians have not even studied the Bible for themselves, to find out what God expects of them.