Are you religious?
“If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 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 NIV)
At different times I have been asked the question, "Are you religious?" It is not a phrase with which I am particularly comfortable. Usually, the person asking the question is making some comment about my involvement in church, or my faith in Christ. Let me ask you to think for a moment about what comes to mind when you hear the word "religious"? The kinds of images that usually emerge relate to someone who goes to church all the time, prays a lot etc.
James defines the word "religious" in a very different way. He describes being religious not so much in terms of how we relate to God but how we relate to the people around us. The way that we speak to others is his first benchmark for a truly "religious" person. Keeping only "tight rein on his tongue" is the first test of someone who is really following God. We can't claim to follow God and yet abuse our friends and neighbours. James will have more to say about this later on in his letter.
The second test of true religion according to James is how we treat the weakest members of our society. "Orphans and widows" were among the most helpless people in his day. There was no social security or any system of government benefits to look after people. Being an orphan was to be dependent on one's extended family or to starve. To be a widow was also to be vulnerable and at risk.
One of the characteristics of the early Christian church was its concern for the poor and destitute. Following Jesus was not simply about going to church or saying prayers. It was and is about living out our faith on a daily basis. This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with going to church or saying prayers. But the God who is worshipped in these ways also says, "love your neighbour as yourself".
Are you religious? Does your life demonstrate the love and compassion of God?
At different times I have been asked the question, "Are you religious?" It is not a phrase with which I am particularly comfortable. Usually, the person asking the question is making some comment about my involvement in church, or my faith in Christ. Let me ask you to think for a moment about what comes to mind when you hear the word "religious"? The kinds of images that usually emerge relate to someone who goes to church all the time, prays a lot etc.
James defines the word "religious" in a very different way. He describes being religious not so much in terms of how we relate to God but how we relate to the people around us. The way that we speak to others is his first benchmark for a truly "religious" person. Keeping only "tight rein on his tongue" is the first test of someone who is really following God. We can't claim to follow God and yet abuse our friends and neighbours. James will have more to say about this later on in his letter.
The second test of true religion according to James is how we treat the weakest members of our society. "Orphans and widows" were among the most helpless people in his day. There was no social security or any system of government benefits to look after people. Being an orphan was to be dependent on one's extended family or to starve. To be a widow was also to be vulnerable and at risk.
One of the characteristics of the early Christian church was its concern for the poor and destitute. Following Jesus was not simply about going to church or saying prayers. It was and is about living out our faith on a daily basis. This is not to suggest that there is anything wrong with going to church or saying prayers. But the God who is worshipped in these ways also says, "love your neighbour as yourself".
Are you religious? Does your life demonstrate the love and compassion of God?
posted by Peter Wilson at 3:59 PM
1 Comments:
Hi Peter,
Great web presence and nice colour scheme.
Phil Walsh
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