Oh, Demi, I know where you are coming from. I am Protestant (Reformed Baptist) and I take no offense that you have left Protestantism. I understand. I believe that James speaks to this issue. Faith without works is dead. Not because works contribute anything to salvation (sorry, I know this is not where you are at) but because, to put what you said in another way, what we do shows what we believe. People who say they have faith, but have no works, are only fooling themselves. True faith will naturally produce works. I know it is not all about salvation, but it was not until I was saved that I cared at all about even trying to be holy.
I understand your disillusionment with the church. There are many who attach themselves to the church because, let's face it, the benefits are tremendous! They think that because they go to church and know the doctrines, they are saved! But their hearts are not changed - and without that heart change, they are "wells without water". Without that God-given heart change, we will never see heaven, and also, we will never be holy.