where is the scripture saying Faith is active? to me, the Word is active, and faith believes the word, which moves us because of Belief in the active word. " the hearing of faith comes before the activity of it" Just a thought not looking to argue
"The thought", as you say, is spiritual, and spiritual is active- it is what drives us to do what we do - whether good or bad. Someone can say that they would help the needy, yet not actually do it when given the chance- such as the priest in the Good Samaritan scenario. Another can claim the same, yet live where there are no neighbors, only miles of mountains, but actually would help if they were in that situation. You see, the physical action is only the proof of the active heart (effort is the evidence of love), but love can exist without evidence. But if love/faith is truly alive and active, it will respond in action when in the situation.
Faith causes us to respond. For example, why press your foot on the brake pedal of your car, unless you first believe that it will cause the car to stop? BUT only believing that pressing your foot against the pedal will cause it to stop WILL NOT MAKE IT STOP. This is a dead faith- because you stopped the response. If you see someone with their hands full, you respond by opening the door for them- your response is evidence that love for your neighbor is alive and active in your heart. But without the evidence, without that person there that needed help with the door, your love was alive and active without evidence. But putting a active love in the situation WILL cause you to physically act as well. But the physical action is only the proof of what is already active inside (spiritually).
Faith is belief in God, but it is only a dead faith if it doesn't cause you to respond to Him with obedience. You see, through my study of the Bible, I've recognized that God uses estimates. For example, He says that one man pretends he has great wealth, but has nothing, and another man pretends to be poor but has great wealth. Obviously the poor man had some, otherwise he wouldn't be fed, clothed, housed, or alive. And God estimates a dead faith as having no faith at all. Even demons believe in God, but they don't act on that faith, because their hearts are dead. Whether physically speaking, or spiritually speaking, life is active, death is inactive. Faith is active, otherwise it's dead- which is no faith at all (estimated). Love is active, otherwise it's dead. Anything spiritual-life is active.