Speaking at a church the Democrat nominee said her faith meant she had to "face the world as it is, not as we might want it to be".
Clinton is a Methodist and has long accredited the Church for her political views.
She told the crowd: "Thanks to my family and my church I embraced an activist social justice faith, a roll up your sleeves and get yourselves dirty faith.
"Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead. The Epistle of James tell us we cannot just be hearers of the word, we must be doers, and I believe that with all my heart."
She said she had a "deep and abiding Christian faith and practice" thanks to her parents and local church.
The presidential candidate said her aim was: "to reflect the love of God and follow the example of Jesus Christ to the greater good of God's beloved community.
"That's what led me to devote my life in the ways that I could to serving others."
