Pure and Undefiled Religion...

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.  Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.--James 1:26-27

Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,

We have reached the last two verses of chapter 1. If you think you are religious but can't control your tongue, James says your religion is useless.  The word chosen for religious here refers to a ceremonial type of worship or a service to a god.  It points to the person who is displaying the external trappings of being religious on the outside but is practicing them with a heart that is not sincere.  God, who knows the heart, is not impressed and most likely is wearied.  God wants our hearts.  When our hearts truly believe, our words and our actions will follow. Our lips reveal our hearts. 

Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."--Matthew 12:34-37



James goes on to say that the most pure and undefiled type of religion is reflected by a separation from the world and a sacrificial love for those among us who are in need...especially those who are not in a position to reciprocate.  Visiting the fatherless, the widow, the afflicted, the helpless, and the hopeless among us...this is pure and undefiled religion.  As children of God we are not of the world spiritually.  We are here to glorify God and bring others to Him.  To do that we cannot look like the children of this world who are ruled by the prince of this world. Jesus loved and spent time with publicans and sinners and yet He remained undefiled.  He is our example in this.  Jesus, no matter where He was or who He was with, always did the will of His Father...and that is how we remain unspotted from the world...by doing the will of our Father in heaven.

Love
Mom