What is Good Religion?
Notes
Transcript
There’s a common phrase that I’m sure all of you have heard, maybe you have even said it before… “Christianity isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship.” OR some variation of that phrase.
Not my favorite phrase…
One of my Christian Studies professors in undergrad had a tendency to go on rabbit trails… now I wanted to call them crotchety old man rants - but Vanessa didn’t think that was a fair description - since he was a sweet old man… now I’m not complaining it was a rather enjoyable part of his lectures - One of his many “old man rants “involved this phrase “it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship”… in which he stated that “I know a lot of you like to use this phrase… and it’s cute but it really doesn’t mean anything.”
And while I described this as a rabbit trail it was actually related to the material because this was a class where we were studying the book of 1 John. (But it was still a rabbit trail because it was a greek course.) However, the main theme for 1 John is what does it mean to be in Christ, which naturally connects to the idea of what does it look like to be a Christian.
1 John, similar to our passage in James today, demonstrates what good Christian religion looks like.
Part of the reason that we hear many people use this phrase is because they define religion to mean something that it does not mean.
For example:
The Definition that Dictionary.com gives for Religion is:
“a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.”
I don’t see any point where this definition fails to describe Christianity.
Now I understand that the mantra in question is the idea that Christianity is not merely a list of do’s and don’t’s to check off, rules to follow - but the Bible does not define religion in that manner.
I will also add that some “Christian” groups specifically Word of Faith and health wealth and prosperity gospel types - when people criticize them for being unbiblical they will often respond with the insult that their critics have a religious spirit, or “the religious folk wont like this” or something of that nature. But that’s not Biblical.
Interestingly, the Bible does not use the word religion often. Even the word that we see used here in James is used five times - two of those being used in this text for today. It’s not use in a consistently negative way.
The reason that I begin with this point is:
1. Religion is not a bad word. The Bible certainly does not give us the impression that religion is bad.
2. This dichotomy of religion vs relationship that is so often repeated is not consistent with the Bible, nor the book of James.
3. James rather than trying to display that there are two kinds of religion. Worthless religion, and pure and undefiled religion. Bad Religion and Good Religion.
So there’s another trap to avoid here. While on the one hand, religion is not a bad word there’s another another side to this… not all religion is viewed equally in the Bible. Not all religions, or roads lead to God.
So where a group like AA has their 10 step program which encourages people to submit to a higher power - but they are not really concerned with which one. Which frankly can be very dangerous if their submission to a higher power leads someone in to a dangerous cult - or even just a false religion that leads one to eternal damnation. Not all religion is bad but also not all religion is good either.
James in these two verses describes two kinds of religion.
But in these two descriptions he is also giving three marks of what pure and undefiled religion look like.
So while I have two main points:
Those two main points will result with three points of application for what faithful Christianity ought to look like.
The two types of religion that James describes are: Worthless religion and pure and undefiled religion.
In verse 26 we see the first of these:
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
Worthless Religion or as I will call it…
Bad Religion
Bad Religion
The context in which James is speaking of is specifically among Christians. This isn’t an evaluation of Islam or Hinduism… because those would simply be false religion to James. This is James giving a description of one who claims to be a Christian having false religion.
The mark of bad religion that James gives is: one who does not bridle his tongue. A major theme in the book of James is the importance of how one uses their tongue. Christians ought to use their words wisely.
He introduces the metaphor of a bridle here in verse 26. He will return to this metaphor in Jas 3:2-3.
Most of you have probably been around horses more than I have so I likely don’t need to define a bit and a bridle - but just in case, this is the part that is put around the head of the horse and in the mouth of the horse to control and steer the animal.
James is stating that a man ought to bridle his tongue as a cowboy uses a bit and a bridle to control and direct a horse. James is not only saying to control your tongue. But he stating that a defining characteristic of those with worthless religion is how they use their tongues - and that they pay not mind to controlling their tongue.
We are often very good at monitoring which words we use… But how careful are we with the words that we do use?
Many times we reduce the Bible’s instructions concerning how we use our words to such a simple standard that it’s unbiblical. If you think these condemnations are merely do not use foul language, you are mistaken. The Bible condemns corrupting talk more than foul language. Does your language tear others down? Does it corrupt?
Southerners use this phrase “bless your heart.” And while there is nothing wrong with that phrase… if you’re familiar with how it is used it’s generally
Do not pat yourself on the back because you never use profanity if every conversation you have is littered with gossip.
Several years ago, I was on staff at a church as an associate pastor. When it came time for me to say my goodbyes - the senior pastor and I were speaking - a sort of an exit interview if you will - and he said something that stuck with me in the probably the worst way. A few weeks prior I had over heard this pastor and someone else speaking about another church member’s wife and… I was in my office - and I don’t think they were aware of that. So when it came time for me to depart I mentioned to him that I had observed that this church had a really bad issue with gossip - and he said back to me “You know Brian, every church has a gossip problem.” And while part of me fears that he is right - but I sincerely hope he is not. I’ve also heard that if you don’t think you’re church has a gossip problem it is because you are the one being gossiped about…
James states that the evidence of worthless religion is a lack of bridling one’s tongue… which means that the opposite is also true. While James does not list bridling the tongue as a prerequisite for good religion - it follows that this is the bare minimum - that good religion is partnered with bridling one’s tongue.
The manner in which one uses their tongue or their speech is a major theme in the book of James. James demonstrates that the tongue ought to be an instrument of blessing, not a weapon of destruction.
Control of the tongue is not merely about what you do not say - but what you do say. A bridled tongue is one that speaks blessing - one that is slow to speak - and when it is the right time to speak
A bridled tongue is quick to pray rather than gossip. Quick to bless and build rather than tear down. Quick to speak a word of comfort, rather than corrupting talk. Quick to call out evil, rather than pretend evil is good.
But as James shows in verse 27, it is not merely watching your mouth. James continues on from here to give actions that describe good religion before God.
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Good Religion
Good Religion
Pure and Undefiled Religion
In verse 27 James gives what is pure and undefiled religion before God. Good religion before God is that which is these three things. So not only does the Bible not view religion as a bad thing, but God himself, in his word tells us what is pure and undefiled religion in his sight. There’s no room for human definition here.
This isn’t Pastor Brian says this is what it means to be a good Christian, or even James’ interpretation - this is what God expects as the bare minimum for his people.
Jesus tells us that the whole law is summed up in love of God and love of neighbor. And James gives practical examples of what that looks like.
James is not giving an all inclusive definition of what pure and undefiled religion is… but what he does give us are the basics. I think we should all agree that good Christians should read their Bible… and I’m sure that James would agree with that… But James is giving a description to show that good Christian religious ought to be more than just lip service.
In addition to the conclusion that Christians ought to bridle their tongues…
James gives two positive identifies of Good Christians…
To visit orphans and widows in their affliction
Note that he does not merely make this address to elders or pastors - but rather the attitude of anyone who would seek to have pure and undefiled religion… the attitude of one who is seeking to glorify God is one who would visit - and care for such as these.
James is not the only place in the Bible where orphans and widows are called out to be given special care.
Exodus 22:22. Also in Deuteronomy 14:29 there are laws that teach the people how to care for the widow and the orphan.
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.
The Psalms show us that these are the kind of people who the Lord himself cares for… and thus we should care for those whom God cares for.
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.
Caring for those who are unable to care for themselves.
And yet, as I’ve thought through this text over the past well three weeks I know that this is a church that has many widows - and I’ve seen many of you work to care for widows.
Before we become so quick to make this ONLY about orphans and widows this can often extend to others. Consider the women who are not widows but have been abandoned by their husbands. Divorcees who are having a hard time making ends meet since their husband ran off with his secretary. Or women whose husbands are in poor health and their children have all but abandoned them. Widowers whose health is declining and their wives have passed before them. This text is less about making a list of children who lost their parents, or wives who lost their husbands to check off on you care list as much as it is the Bible identifying those who are the most in need and caring for those people. The church ought to be quick to care for those in need.
This will feed into chapter 2 when he begins to speak of the sin of partiality. And James there specifically identifies caring for the poor. We are often inclined to be impartial against those whom we think cannot benefit us.
This is text, and others like it, are why Christians have historically been so quick to adopt, to fund and support orphanages, to fund crisis pregnancy centers, and homeless centers, hospitals, shelters for victims of domestic violence, and other charities. And why we should continue to do so wisely and diligently.
To Keep oneself unstained from the world.
Caring widows and orphans is the easy part -when you consider this second part.
Christians ought to look like Christ. Not like the world.
Yet this is also easily caught up in the idea of being set apart from the world. Being holy.
As this is the first Lord’s Day of 2025 and many of you may have thought through resolutions… and hopefully you gave good thought to Jim’s exhortation to commit yourself to reading the scriptures in 2025 - and I would add on to that to aspire to commit yourself to growing in godliness. This would include the reading of Scripture but also to keep yourself unstained from the world.
Paul in 1 Tim. 4:7 instructions Timothy that he ought to train himself for godliness. I would argue that training yourself for godliness and keeping oneself unstained from the world would be the same thing.
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
Train yourselves for godliness. Repent of sin.
So to recap:
James gives three marks for Good Religion:
To bridle ones tongue. Watch your mouth.
Care for those who cannot care for themselves. Watch out for others.
To keep yourself unstained from the world. Watch your life. Strive to live in a God glorifying manner.
But also know that you will fail - there will be times that you fail to tame your tongue, where you speak ill of someone unfairly or unkindly. Repent of that. There will be times when you say to yourself “I don’t want to care for the widows. I don’t want to care for the orphans.” Repent of that.
But also look to Jesus.
These main points can also be summarized as: Talk like Jesus. Love like Jesus. Walk Like Jesus.
Jesus’ speech was always that of an instrument of blessing. The gospels show us many times where Jesus welcomed children, and loved orphans and widows. Jesus cared for those that society shunned and he loved them. He called them to repent of their sins, and taught them to walk in righteousness… and he died on the cross to save them.. and to save us from the sins that created a separation between us and God…
Jesus is our perfect example. But he’s also the perfect sacrifice. He was obedient where we fail to be.
Connection to the Lord’s Supper…
