Religion or Spirituality

James 1:26-27

 Part II (of two)

James writes: If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world (James 1:26-27).

            The second thing that we need to learn from this passage of scripture is that this religion is not the accepted world view. Since the beginning of our faith, Christians have acknowledged that our perspective is different than the world’s. To be pure and undefiled before God is to live our faith. James tells us this when he defines it in the following words of the text. This is not a demand for perfection but for deeds of kindness and compassion. In our time we understand that ultimately the provision for the needs of the poor and disenfranchised ones requires a commitment to justice. Justice, not an idea nor a singular issue, but the need to change the systems that get in the way of such care. So, for example, we cannot simply feed the poor in Africa without dealing with political systems that stop the flow of food at the wharf until those in power are either paid off or divert it to only those they support. We cannot truly care for the enormous numbers of orphans in our world without dealing with the world plague we call AIDS.

            But the world view is that spirituality is private – and any one is as good as another. Not so for Christians. At the least we want to ask how a religion or spirituality increases the respect and regard for human life in our world – through real life actions. That is why; as we at Redeemer grow deeper in discipleship our mission endeavors will increase. Our religion expects our relationship to Jesus Christ to impact how we treat others.

Discipleship lesson: The Christian world view sees in the needs of others our Lord’s invitation to live our discipleship.

            The third spiritual truth set forth is that our serving in faith reinforces our religion. That’s what I understand James to be teaching us when, having identified behaviors, including bridling the tongue, he adds the need for us to keep oneself unstained by the world. Unstained… it doesn’t mean to be totally apart from the world. It means that we live in such a way that we rub off on the world not vice versa.

            The paradox of our faith is that the more we give, the more we receive. The more I share my financial resources, the more God’s abundance enters my life. The more I serve in Jesus’ name, the more my relationship with Jesus grows. The more I live my faith, the more my faith lives in me.

Discipleship lesson: Christians are called to rub off on the world – by being engaged in the world in Jesus’ name.

            Lord Jesus Christ, empower me to influence my world for good in your name. I want to open my life to your abundance. Create in me a generous heart, I pray. Amen