Pure Religion!

Pure Religion!

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27 KJV

The Context:

James lays down some of the tenets of the Christian experience, and as we see from yesterday's piece, trials and tribulations are a part of that experience. There are other parts to the Christian religion, but there is this popular defence that 'Christianity is not a religion'. Actually, there are 2 definitions that are relevant here, and these are: 'the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power'; and 'a particular system of faith and worship'. As we see from these definitions, there is an element of worship and a system to every religion there is. There are acts and practices that make it obvious which religion is being practiced or discussed. So is it with the Christian religion: it has an element of private worship as well as public service. It must be the private worship that drives the public service. All that I do and say in public must reflect the truth of my private devotion and worship. I cannot be hypocritical or pay lip service to the faith; it has to be sincere and true. 

The Charge:

Unfortunately, the nature of the private worship makes it easy to fake it; because there is no art to determining the sincerity of the private worship, men keep up appearances and just go through the motions. We assume that what we see is the result of sincere private worship, but unless God reveals to you, there really is no way of knowing what is true or not. However, one thing is clear: God lays out what He expects from those who claim to worship Him. The output of the life of a truthful worshipper of God will reflect today's passage: it is a life that is lived in service to other people, particularly those who cannot stand up for themselves. The balance is there in the passage: flow out into other people, and keep the divine connection intact. I cannot lose sight of either; I cannot be so focused on heaven that I forget to impact lives, or be so focused on impacting lives that I fail to keep myself from the world's pollution. Both are important, forming the package that is the Christian religion. 

The Conclusion:

I examine my life again today: what is the nature of my connection with God? Does my life reflect the demands of the religion that God accepts? Remember, it is not what is popular or applauded by men that counts, but what God says he desires. When God has spoken, it really does not matter what the whole world says. God placed me on earth as His representative, so the world must know that I am different. What are my current pursuits and priorities? What are the things that take and hold my attention? Are people grateful that they have me in their lives or are they relieved when I have left the scene? Are there people who can be grateful to God for my life of selfless service, pointing their attention back to God, or am I consumed with how people see me? I must remember the one I am called to serve, and that it is a privilege, not a right, to be called into that life of service. Gratitude and service are the right responses to this privilege. God's time of favour is here.