Pure and Genuine Religion

Good Morning,

James 1:26-27 (NIV)
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:26-27 (NLT)
If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

I sometimes wonder just how "religious" many of our "religions" really are. From the pen of the apostle James, given from God, we get a pretty short and precise definition of what religion ought to be.

In order to be truly a religious person, James tells us, we need to be in control of what we say and how we say it...at all times! In addition, if our religion is to be real and free of contaminating influences, then we should regularly be taking care of those in need among us and those even in the world. I know, James says that it is "caring for orphans and widows" but when I read these words I hear more than JUST orphans and widows. What I hear clearly in my mind is that we are to care for all who are in need...orphans and widows being first and foremost. The final thing we read is the most difficult by far. If we are to have religion that God will accept we must do all we can to keep the world and its ways from leading us astray or contaminating us.

Yet, many of our "religious" and "religions" seem to be more interested in becoming mega churches instead of concentrating on this short section of Scripture. Way too many of those who claim to be religious can't keep their mouths shut and cause all kinds of strife and problems by what they say and/or how they say it. In large part, those members of our local congregations still want to obtain 52" plasma television sets (just an example of one kind of extravagance) instead of using some of their wealth helping those in need. There are still a lot of us who can't seem to allow ourselves to turn away from, or shut out as best we can, some of the corrupt influences of the world.

Am I religious? I guess that if I use the definitions and explanations in these verses and what I hear in my heart today, I would have to say "No"...at least not as I would want to be.

We need to take these words and think about what they mean to each of us as individuals and then as they pertain to our local congregations. We need to ask ourselves, each of us, if we are really religious as God would accept and honor. We need to examine our churches to see if they are, in the same way as we ought to be individually, acceptable to God.

We all need to do more...individually and collectively...to have "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father."

Love, peace, and blessings,

David