Finding Pure Religion(GW)

 This article is written by my friend Brent, who works with a church in Memphis, TN.  It is always worthwhile to stop and take a long look at ourselves!  Thanks Brent!!

It is tempting to point out all the flaws of another without taking much account of our own.  It is easier to look at someone else than it is at ourselves.  This is James’ point in his mirror illustration (James 2:23-25).  I see countless individuals in a week’s time, and so do you.  I recognize quickly when something is wrong with someone’s appearance.  It is not as if I’m trying to notice people’s problems, but unless they are looking in the mirror I have a better perspective than they do.  For this reason, most of us try to glance at a mirror occasionally to make sure things are in order.  If we didn’t do this we would end up being out of sorts, while thinking things were just fine.   Unfortunately, looking into the spiritual mirror is not as straight forward as the physical mirror, and it is easy to think things are fine when they are not– especially if we lose familiarity with the Scriptures.

         In James 1:26-27, James offers us three life-long objectives necessary for possessing worthwhile religion. In all of these areas it is common to see people who expect higher standards from others than they do themselves.  In other words, Christian’s can be critical of a brother, while at the same time ignoring similar problems in their own life.  We normally call these people hypocrites.

         Bridling the tongue.  James recognizes that controlling the tongue is a tough mission (James 3:1-12). It needs constant attention, and cannot be left to run wild at any instance. As James put it, “no man can tame the tongue.”  Yet he says, “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” (James 1:26).  Why is it that the other guy is always the one speaking out of turn, or not using language befitting a Christian?  It seems it is always someone else who is saying too much, or not being accurate with their words.  Maybe these accusations are true– sometimes they are–but we are quick to cast guilt on others sometimes.  We must remember that James just instructed, in the three verses preceding this one, that we take a long, hard look in the mirror.  Maybe it was our words that were out of line, and we are receiving a just rebuke (Prov 26:5). We might want to consider Proverbs 26:4 before we decide to be the one on the rebuking end. What is most important is that I make sure I am bridling my tongue, not that brother “so and so” is.

         Caring For The Needy.  James’ thoughts regarding this issue mark the battle ground between two views of how the church should function.  James comments are not hard to interpret.  He was clearly writing about individual responsibility, not the church action.  The wording of the text reveals this.  He says, “If anyone among you…” and “keep oneself unspotted…”   There is no doubt this passage has been abused by those who want the church to function as a relief society instead of simply the pillar and ground for the truth.  But are we, who fight so valiantly against the interpretive abuse of the passage, just as guilty of ignoring its message?  We claim that “visiting orphans and widows in their trouble”  is a personal responsibility.  As strongly as we stand up and make this claim against those who don’t agree with us, we better make sure we are looking in the mirror and finding ourselves fulfilling this commandment.  Our first duty is to make sure we are doing what we ought in this area, rather than seeing our primary objective as making sure we tell others they interpret the passage incorrectly.  Remember, we often see other’s faults more clearly than our own, that doesn’t mean ours aren’t there– It doesn’t mean ours are less problematic.

         Being unstained by the world.  If we are to have true religion, we cannot love the world.  Even more, we cannot regard anything of a wicked nature.  “abstain from every form of evil,” the Scriptures say.  Paul’s point here is that we are to stay away from any and every kind of wickedness (This passage does not mean anything that appears evil is to be avoided, Paul and Jesus would both be guilty if so).   We can’t be  99% pure.  One percent contamination results in impurity and defilement (Though we have sinned Christ’s blood purifies the faithful. We are saved by grace through faith. This will have to be left for a different article). If we allow the smallest portion of our lives to be spoiled by the world, our religion is no longer pure and undefiled– the stain is there.  One drop of pizza sauce stains an otherwise completely white shirt.  It is easy to see the stains in other’s lives isn’t.  Before we entertain thoughts of addressing another’s shortcomings, let’s take a look into the perfect law of liberty(Gal 6:1-5).  The day may come when we are forced by conscience to help a brother caught in sin, but humility, kindness, sincerity and love must govern our actions. 

         Pure religion is not an easy thing to obtain.  Here is a challenge I would like for all of us to commit to for one week:  When I think about another person’s faults, I will immediately refocus on one area of my life that needs work.   I promise you that we all have a better chance of possessing undefiled religion if we spend most of our time working on our faults, rather than our brother’s.

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