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Pure Religion

By Mark Larson

Many people today speak of the importance of “just being Christians” and the need to be “spiritual” instead of “religious.” Being religious is often viewed as a bad thing by those who connect it with organized religion or the mere external rituals that are done for show. Despite the fact that corruption in organized religion is a common problem and that shallowness and hypocrisy too often accompanies the outward, external deed, being religious can actuality be a good thing! Though religion has developed a bad reputation in the world, we would do well to practice the kind of religion that God prescribes in His word.

James, a bondservant of God, makes it clear what being religious entails, what pure religion is about: “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, NKJV). As James just described, to be religious means to be “careful of the externals of divine service” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary). Being religious is the manner in which we are to demonstrate our fear of God or show our reverence for Him (See Thayer’s Greek Lexicon definition of religious).

Every individual Christian has been given the duty to practice “pure and undefiled religion before God.” Failure to be religious is the failure to please the Lord. Though many have defiled or corrupted religion and have developed a vain or useless religion,  we still have the duty to be religious in the way that God intended us to be! 

Let us recognize that to be spiritual is to also be religious. The law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:21) is spiritual (Rom. 7:14). Therefore, when we obey His law we are spiritual!  “Men in Christ who walk so as to please God are spiritual” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary) (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Gal. 5:22-25).  If, then we are truly spiritual, we will also be religious – we will do the good works that the Lord requires us to do (James 1:26-27).  

Being spiritual goes beyond the feelings or motives of the heart. We must also be religious by being careful to do what God has commanded, such as bridle our tongues (i.e., control, restrain our speech) or “visit orphans and widows in their trouble” (i.e., look after, help, care for, provide for them; James 1:26-27). To be spiritual, we will practice pure religion by our commitment to live lives of holiness – “to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”  This means we do our best to keep ourselves from worldly activities that are unclean or sinful that will stain or blemish our character as Christians. We cannot allow ourselves to be friends with “the world” (James 4:4) nor conform our lives to the standards of the world (Rom. 12:2). Though we must love the world, meaning the people in it (John 3:16 / Eph. 5:1), we must not “love the world” meaning the sinful practices of it (1 John 2:15). This is essential to practicing “pure and undefiled religion before God.” 

To be sure, a mere outward show in order to appear religious will not save anyone (e.g., church attendance, acts of charity, etc.). We cannot play the hypocrite and hope to be saved eternally. Yet, to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must practice “pure religion” by doing our best to obey God’s word in daily living. James (James 1:26-27; 2:14-26) as well as Jesus Christ teaches this important truth: "Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'  And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'  (Matt 7:21-23, NKJV).