Read James 1:26-27
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their 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)
“Religion is a comprehensive word for the special ways in which a heart-relationship to God is expressed in our lives.” (Alec Motyer).
In this brief passage James does not try to give a detailed account of what acceptable religion is and probably we are surprised by the description he gives! To sum it up it is all about being and doing. It is the Father who accepts this religion which we will now examine.
Firstly, there is the negative statement that a person who does not keep a tight rein on his tongue deceives himself or herself and that sort of religion is worthless. James has more to say about taming the tongue in chapter 3. We often get little teaching in our churches about the importance of the tongue and the tremendous evil of gossip, hasty words, lies and slander. Jesus Christ said: “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37).
Then we are given two positive statements about religion concerning doing and being. Firstly, it is to “look after orphans and widows in their distress”. “Looking after” does not just mean giving money and providing for their daily needs. It also includes empowering – giving them, where applicable, the ability to provide for themselves and the authority to stand up for their rights. Secondly, it is to “keep oneself from being polluted by the world”. Further teaching on “the world” is given later in James. Here it is sufficient to say that although we are “in the world” we must not be “of the world” and all the evil that the world stands for. Acceptable religion is being like Jesus and doing like Jesus.
How acceptable to the Father is our religion?
This meditation is extracted from “Transformation from Belief to Behaviour: 39 Lenten Meditations on the Letter of James” by Peter Young and used with permission by the author. It may be used solely for personal, noncommercial, and informational purposes. Republication or redistribution of this devotional is prohibited.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
