Mid-Week Bible Lesson1 (8-24-22) "Pure Religion"

 



Mid-Week Bible Lesson August 24, 2022

Pure Religion - “caring for orphans and widows and being separate from the world”.

That is the definition that James gives for “pure religion” in James 1:27. I wonder what your definition might be? Regular church attendance? Believing the right things? Doing good works? Being a good person? These things are good, but DO THEY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF “PURE RELIGION”?

Before this verse, James says “if you think you are religious and don’t bridle your tongue, you deceive your own heart, and your religion is worthless.” (James 1:26 My Paraphrase) Later James describes the tongue as “a little member that boasts great things… it’s a fire, a world of iniquity.” (James 3:5-6)

First, we see the tongue reveals the condition of our soul. What we say and how we say it comes out of the heart. You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool everyone all the time. Beyond that, YOU CAN NEVER FOOL GOD! “Taming the tongue” is one of the hardest things to do! Gossip, lies, half-truths, accusations, a mean spirit, profanity, etc. all counter our claim to have “pure religion”. Our words also reveal whether we have a secular or Christian mindset.

Second, we deceive ourselves thinking we have good reason to act “unchristian”,  saying things that are not Christian, yet convincing ourselves we are in good standing with God. One of the most used tools of Satan is “Passive / Aggressive Behavior”. We never say what we really mean but we attack through subtle secondary means. The Bible says that we are to “speak the truth in love”. We never express ourselves clearly by deflecting the truth. We’ve all experienced this in committee meetings, work life, etc.

Third, “pure religion” is unselfish caring for others. The Bible describes two groups that can’t help themselves and can’t reciprocate, widows and orphans. Some widows live active lives, and some orphans have great support. Others struggle and these are those identified by James. One of the clearest signs of a new life in Christ is when we become givers and not takers. Generosity is the greatest cure for pride and greed. Caring for those who can’t care for themselves is admirable.

Fourth, being separate from the world means Jesus is the center of everything we think and do. It includes what we believe, what we watch, our friends, what we wear, where we go, what we study… in truth, all aspects of our lives. We are to be “separated to God and separate from the world.”

In summary, “Pure religion” is a high bar! It can’t be achieved without the filling of the Holy Spirit. As we express pure religion daily, we will see “souls saved, lives changed, and hearts renewed”. The  Spirit of God will use you through your generosity. The church is blessed; the community benefits; God is glorified and isn’t that what life’s all about?

 

Popular posts from this blog

The Rigid Rule of Law (James 2:10-13)

Image
  “For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) “The law” as James uses it, refers to the Mosaic Law plus the many rules associated with Jewish life. These laws were very detailed, rigid, and impossible to obey… even for the most devoted. Today many consider the Ten Commandments “Rules to Live By”. These commandments may be your goal, but NO ONE CAN OBEY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR AN ENTIRE LIFETIME. In fact, no one can even adhere for a day. These laws were given to expose our sinful nature and our need for a Savior. The law kills! Violations demand justice. There can be no mercy. One small violation makes one guilty of the whole law. James returns his readers to the “royal law” (2:8) describing it in (2:12) as the “law of liberty” or the “perfect law of liberty” (KJV). This is James’ title for the “law written in the heart” by the blood of Jesus Christ… an internal law, strong and eternal… verses the outward law writt
Read more

The Sin of Partiality (James 2:1-9)

Image
  The Sin of Partiality (James 2:1-9) “… have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts.” (James 2:4) Words like “racist”, “white supremacist”, “Nazi”, “fascist”, etc. are thrown around so much they have lost much of their original meaning. Our politics are often reduced to “kill the messenger” vs “listening and evaluating the message”. As James wrote to the dispersed tribes of Israel, he paid special attention to hypocrisy, pure religion, and partiality. As Jews, the twelve tribes had strict rules of worship, assembly, family, work, diet, etc. Judaism was a very legalistic, outward presentation of what should have been an inward condition of the heart. Lifestyle was to mimic the holiness and purity of God. As Jewish Christians, their outward legalism had been converted to a new condition of the heart where the Holy Spirit was their guide. Evidently when they came together to worship and fellowship; power, prestige, position, and weal
Read more