I certainly wouldn’t deny the presence(likely widespread) of heretically simplified interpretation of 'sola fide; some of the more fire and brimstone or ‘spiritual warfare’ focused types look more manichean than monotheistic; and the prosperity theology guys are certainly evidence of the remarkable abilities of the market economy to deliver consumer salvation goods tackier and more vulgar than one would have imagined possible; but, in fairness to protestant theology if not some of its adherents, anyone who actually thinks that salvation on their own initiative is dabbling in some fairly hardcore heresy.
At least in theory, there’s agreement more or less across flavors of christianity that grace is absolutely essential and only available by divine beneficence. It cannot be achieved, earned, or even deserved. The ‘faith’ vs. ‘works’ dispute does not concern acquiring grace, since both sides agree that this is not within the individual’s power, just how justification plays out in the presence of grace: team ‘works’ asserts the efficacy of the sacraments and the position that the effect of grace on the individual will include some amount of behavior. Team ‘faith’ asserts that any amount of ritual is insufficient to merit grace and irrelevant in its presence.
This is not to deny the presence of people who think that having the loudest piety on the block; or a nice cadillac, is proof positive of possession of grace and impending salvation; people believe all kinds of things especially when they are easier and more flattering; just to note that it’s specifically justification rather than grace where the dispute between faith and works theoretically lies.
