Pure Religion - what is it according to your Bible? The word religion is a pejorative term for many, conjuring up images of people who come across ‘holier than thou’ in their walk with God. The word ‘religion’ is only found a few times in Scripture, mostly in reference to false worship systems of this world. But the Apostle James does give us one very positive reference: “Religion that God our Father accepts as ‘pure & faultless’ is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
It’s a very pithy definition of religion, causing some to ask “Is that it? Is there nothing more to it than that? But if you take the time to analyze James definition in light of the rest of Scripture, you’ll understand that it really was inspired by the Spirit of God! God instructed Moses to tell Israel: “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child (orphan). If you afflict them in any way and they cry out at all to ME, I will surely hear their cry; and MY wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” (EXODUS 22:22-24)
God knows what a difficult road it is for widows & orphans! The children grow up without their father, or in some cases their mother, which numerous studies show is very debilitating to a child’s development. The widow is forced to raise the children alone, while somehow trying to provide for his or her household. And historically, orphans & widows were ostracized by complete families, who tended to encourage their children not to hang out with, or marry kids from such households.
According to the ‘World Widows Report’ by the Loomba Foundation, there are more than 258 million widows around the world, with 38 million of them living in extreme poverty where basic needs are unmet. The report also states that there are 585 million children affected by widowhood globally.” That’s a quarter of a billion families that King David says that God personally cares for: “A Father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation.” (PSALM 68:4,5)
But God doesn’t give us a pass on the care of these single families: Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.” (DEUTERONOMY 27:19) Part of the ‘justice’ due these unfortunate folks is the ‘laying aside all the tithe of a person’s increase every third year.” (DEUTERONOMY 26:12,13) That’s about 3.3% annually, which is less than what is taken out in payroll taxes today in the United States, in part to give financial assistance to single-parent families. But it’s not enough to fulfill the letter of God’s law, as Jesus expounded in the Sermon on the Mount (MATTHEW 5-7). God says: “My son, do not forget My law, but let your heart keep My commands.” (PROVERBS 3:1)
The heartfelt intent of God’s law is that we learn to love God with all our heart, mind & soul - and that we love our neighbor as ourselves (MATTHEW 22:36-40) Through James, God is telling us that ‘Pure Religion’ is ‘Pure love,’ the kind of love that goes beyond financial assistance to the most challenged in our Society, to a ‘complete family’ adopting and serving an ‘incomplete family’! Is your love for others pure? Or is it tainted, corrupted, and modified by selfishness, pride, and condescension? The Apostle Peter was inspired to write: “Now that you have obeyed the truth and have purified your souls to love your brothers sincerely, you must love one another intensely and with a pure heart.” (I PETER 1:22 ISV). Paul wrote: “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart…” (I TIMOTHY 1:5)
God condemned King Jeroboam because he did not keep God’s commandments and follow HIM with all of his heart, the way King David did (I KINGS 14:8). God said of King Amaziah that “he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a loyal heart.” (II CHRONICLES 25:2) “Pure Religion’ involves not only doing the right thing as God lays out in His commandments - but doing it with a ‘Pure Heart.’ Jesus said: “Blessed are the ‘pure in heart,’ for they shall see God.” (MATTHEW 5:8)
So what about that 2nd part of the Biblical definition of ‘Pure Religion’ - keeping onself unpolluted by the world? How are Christians polluted??? Let us count the ways:
1) “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (COLOSSIANS 2:8)
2) “Demas has forsaken me (Paul), having loved this present world.” (II TIMOTHY 4:10)
3) “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I AM THE LORD.” (LEVITICUS 19:31)
4) “And the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (MATTHEW 13:22)
One of Job’s friends said about him, “For you (Job) have said, ‘My doctrine is pure and I am clean in YOUR eyes.” (JOB 11:4) Most Christians never ask themselves “How pure is my doctrine?” When it comes to doctrine - purity means ‘How Biblical is my doctrine?’ Too many Christians have not kept their doctrine unpolluted by traditions of men, and Church Council edicts. That’s why Jude was inspired to exhort us to “Earnestly contend for ‘the Faith’ that was once for all delivered to the Saints.” (JUDE VS. 3) That’s the original Faith, passed on by Jesus to His Apostles, who then passed it onto the original Christians.
Only 3 other times in the New Testament do we find that Greek word translated “polluted” in James definition of ‘Pure Religion’: in reference to Christ as a lamb ‘without spot’ (I PETER 1:19); in reference to Christians, “be diligent to be found by Him (God)… without spot’; and in an admonition to Timothy by Paul that he and we “keep the commandment ‘unstained’ and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I TIMOTHY 6:13)
So ‘Pure Religion’ is having ‘Pure Love’ and ‘Pure Doctrine’ in the sight of God Almighty! No wonder we’re told in the Psalms: “Lord, who can live in Your holy tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain (Kingdom)? Only those who live PURE lives, do what is right, and speak the truth FROM THEIR HEARTS.” (PSALM 15:2)