Bad Religion

James 1:26-27

Religion is a range of social-cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural, transcendental, and spiritual elements[1]—although there is no scholarly consensus over what precisely constitutes a religion.[2][3] It is an essentially contested concept.[4] Different religions may or may not contain various elements ranging from the divine,[5] sacredness,[6] faith,[7] attachment to a supernatural being.

Simplistically; ones religion is what you practice, it could be putting stumblings blocks in the way of others, sowing discord, stirring up trouble, could be ones religion, thus is how many end up with bad religion. for this reason the Bible makes a distinction between this type of religion and as James put it real religion.

The song writer said “ Give me that old time time religion” the kinda religion that make ya cry when it’s real, it makes you move , it make you shout; but James is talking about a kind of external religion, the look good on the outside stuff, but nothing on the inside stuff, there are many who have the outside stuff but nothing on the inside.

This is what James is expressing:

Jesus enters Jerusalem amid exultation from the masses gathered for Passover. In the morning, as he travels from Bethany, he spots a fig tree “in leaf.” At this point in late spring, most fig trees haven’t developed mature fruit (Mark 11:13). But this particular tree draws Jesus’s attention because it already has a full covering of leaves. It’s an early bloomer. Its foliage signals that it should have early figs.

With that expectation, Jesus inspects the tree. He is immediately disappointed. All leaves, no fruit. All expectation, no satisfaction.

In a shocking turn, Jesus curses the tree and makes it wither from the roots, never to yield fruit again. Fruitlessness brings judgement:

Here as some other words that echoe what James is talking about:

Considered as synonymous with religion in the sense that James uses that term in this the preceding passage - Pharisaism, Phariseeism, false piety, hypocrisy, insincerity, lip service, pietism, religiosity, sanctimoniousness, self-righteousness; This is all put on, no substance.

The Pharisaisees: A religions sect: often presented as hypocritical and proud opponents of Jesus. The Lord stated it bluntly: “They do not practice what they preach” (Matthew 23:3). As a general rule, the Pharisees were self-righteousness and smug in their delusion that they were pleasing to God because they kept the Law—or parts of it, at least. As Jesus pointed out to them, however scrupulous they were in following the finer points of ritualism, they failed to measure up to God’s standard of holiness: “You have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness” (verse 23).

In the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, two men go up to pray. The Pharisee boasts about his righteousness, while the publican humbly asks for mercy. The parable teaches the importance of humility and self-awareness in prayer Luke 18: 9-14

Matthew 5:20 states: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". This verse emphasizes the importance of true righteousness that goes beyond mere outward appearances, as the scribes and Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the law but lacked genuine faith and integrity. The context of this verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches about the deeper moral and spiritual standards expected of His followers. 

Of course, not every Pharisee was opposed to Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who rightly considered Jesus “a teacher who has come from God” and honestly sought answers from Him (John 3:1–2). Nicodemus later defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin (John 7:50–51) and was on hand at Jesus’ crucifixion to help bury the Lord’s body (John 19:39). Some of the early Christians were Pharisees, as well (Acts 15:5).

The apostle Paul was trained as a Pharisee, and his credentials in that group were sterling (Acts 26:5). Paul called himself “a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (Philippians 3:5–6). But Paul found that his performance of the Law could not produce true righteousness. After he placed his trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross, he desired to “be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (verse 9). No one, not even the strictest Pharisee, is justified by keeping the Law (Galatians 3:11).

James tells us that there is a difference between just being religious and real religion:

Walk with me around the text:

James is an in-your -face apostle. He dosen’t want to know the words you heard on Sunday unless they resulted in action on Monday. If anyone thinks he is religious, his Christianity must be practicle. Vertical worship must have horizontal expression. Your faith must be seen in your conversation, your compassion, and your conduct. First, your conversation ought to demonstrate mastery of your tongue. Talk less and bless more. Second, if your religion is to be pure and undefiled, it must express compassion. Provide for those who cannot do anything in return for you.

When you have been born again:

When Jesus Christ is really indwelling a person, it will result in true religion. The word religion as used in James 1:26,27 is not synonymous with the word salvation. James used it in the sense of an outward expression of that which is inward. The inner faith in Jesus Christ as one's personal Saviour results in salvation; expressing that faith outwardly is one's religion, according to the way James used the word.

When one has faith in Jesus Christ, it is only normal and natural for this faith to express itself outwardly. There will be a new motivating power within, and that new desire is an evidence that you are a child of God.

The manifestation of Christ's life through an individual is proof that that person is rightly related to Jesus Christ by faith. In other words, faith in Christ will result in love for others, and this is what James referred to as pure religion.

The Lord Jesus Christ showered His love on those who could not help themselves and who could not, or would not, return His love at that time. When we know Him as personal Saviour, we will have this same kind of love. We will love those who are helpless and unable to return our expressions of love. It is relatively easy to be friends with those who are friends in return or to give to those who give in return. However, our Christianity is woefully deficient if we give in order to receive or if we give and expect an even larger gift in return. This is not pure religion. So when a person is rightly related to Jesus Christ--when he has pure and undefiled religion--he will express the love of Christ to those who are in dire circumstances and unable to return similar expressions of love. "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 Jn 3:18). (Ref) (Bolding added)