Undefiled Religion

This morning, as I read these verses, I noticed something I hadn’t really paid attention to before. Often, when people judge the Christian religion, they say something like, "True religion means caring for orphans and widows." They use it as if it's a command. But these verses are not a command. There is no command language used here. These verses are descriptive. James is sharing that this is what your life will look like if you are following Christ. 

However, that's not the only thing James tells us about a "pure and genuine religion." In fact, he outlines three areas of our lives that reveal whether our Christian faith is pure.

Before we delve into those areas, I want to define "religion" in this context. The term can be quite broad, but here, James uses the Greek word "threskeia," which refers to the outward, organized expression of worship—ceremonies, rituals, and observances that are meant to show reverence for God. In other words, he is discussing our acts of worship, which represent our expression of faith.

What are the "acts of worship" that demonstrate our genuine devotion to God? James identifies three key areas: a controlled tongue, caring for others, and remaining uncorrupted by the world.

I believe these three points are self-explanatory, so I won’t go into great detail. However, I will share several verses from the Bible that highlight how serious God is about these aspects of our lives. While many people stress caring for orphans and widows, if we neglect the other two areas, our worship becomes meaningless.

The Tongue: The Bible has much to say about our speech. Ephesians 4:29 encourages us to ensure our words are constructive and beneficial. Matthew 12:36–37 warns us that we will be accountable for every careless word we speak. James 3:5-8 explains that the tongue is difficult to control. Psalm 34:13 and 1 Peter 3:10 instruct us to avoid lying and speaking evil.

Caring for Others: There are numerous verses regarding this topic. Psalm 82:3 states, "Give justice to the weak and the fatherless..." 1 Timothy 5:3-4 says, "Honor widows who are truly widows..." and Proverbs 28:27 tells us, "Those who give to the poor will lack nothing..."

Remaining Uncorrupted by the World: Several verses address the importance of this. 1 John 2:15 advises, "Do not love the world or the things in the world..." James 4:4 warns, "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" Colossians 3:2 encourages us to "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Romans 12:2 states, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world..." and Ephesians 4:17 reads, "...you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds."

Now, consider these questions prayerfully before the Lord and reflect on whether you are living a life of pure religion:

- Is your relationship with Jesus positively impacting others?

- Do you know when and how to speak in a way that edifies fellow believers?

- Are you caring for those less fortunate in a manner that also shares the gospel?

- Does your love for Jesus inspire you to avoid moral impurity?