DBD - Worthless Religion

Series: Don’t Be Deceived

Series: Don’t Be Deceived

Lesson Title: Worthless Religion

INTRODUCTION

Good morning. If you would like to follow along in your Bibles, please turn to . For our final lesson in this series, we will be looking in the same context that spent time in this morning. Let’s read verse 26:

“26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” (, ESV)

The concept I would like to talk about from this passage is how we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are religious people when in reality any type of religion we may have is worthless/vain.

In verses 26-27, James shows that there are two types of religion we can have: A worthless or vain religion or a religion that is pure, undefiled, and fruitful before God. And one way James shows how we can tell which one we have is by examining our words and our actions. Do our words and our actions line up? Are our actions consistent with our words?

I would like to discuss three ways in which our words and actions can reveal to each of us what type of religion that we have. One’s speech is important in the book of James. Either what we say we believe or how our words reflect our beliefs has a lot of bearing on whether or not our religion is worthless or worth something before God.

Unbridled Speech (; )

We see this in , the passage we just quoted. If you do not have control of your tongue, then any claims of having a religion worth something are in vain. This idea of 'not bridling our tongue’ can have many applications.

First, contextually in verse 19 in being slow to speak and quick to hear. We need to be teachable and reasonable, and this means letting others talk while we do less ourselves. Sometimes the best and wisest thing we can do is remain quiet. We may ruin a lot of opportunities to talk to help others see the truth if we want to do all the talking and never take an opportunity to listen.

Second, we also need to make sure that the things we say are helpful and do not tear down. If we just let everything that comes into our minds come out of our mouths, we are going to get ourselves in trouble. In , Paul says:

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (, ESV)

In verse 30, Paul talks about how our speech can grieve the Holy Spirit of God who has sealed us. If our words would grieve others, there is a good chance they would grieve the Holy Spirit also. Whenever we speak, we shouldn’t be a people who complain, are filled with anger and wrath. We should not be those who slander others and don’t tell the truth. If we want our religion to be worth something, then we need to make sure the things we say are helpful, gracious, and serve those who hear.

In chapter 3 of James, James talks about the danger of the tongue. He shows how our words can cause damage. He likens it to the damage done by fire. It takes just one spark to set a whole forrest ablaze. If we teach God’s word, our tongues can either encourage someone in the faith or lead them astray and destroy their soul. With our tongues we can bless and praise God, but then the next moment be speaking evil of those who are made in God’s image. James says that both should not be coming out of our mouths if we claim to be God’s people. When evil things come out of our mouths, this may show something about our hearts.

POINT 2 - Worthless/vain Faith ()

Next, within the book of James, James also talks about how it may be the case that what we claim to believe is not reflected in our actions. James focuses on this subject primarily in chapter 2. He first deals with the topic of partiality. I won’t deal with this in detail because we talked about partiality in our first lesson, but let it suffice to say that these brethren claimed to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory who is impartial and showed love to people regardless of their economic status or place in society. He loved the rich man and the poor man. He loved the master and the servant. He loved male and female alike. This is the one they served, but then, with their words, they acted contrary to what it means to live by faith in Christ. They served an impartial God, but were themselves showing partiality and prejudice. They served a God who showed such great love to them when they were helpless sinners, but they were unwilling to show love to their poorer brethren.

In verses 14-25, James talks about a general principle based on the specific points that he makes about partiality in verses 1-13. His argument is that our faith — what we claim to believe, and even the things that we believe about the nature of God, if worth anything, will be reflected in our actions. Let’s read verses 14-18.

“14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (, ESV)

James talks about someone’s speech and actions not being consistent here. Someone says he has faith, but does not have works. Someone wishes good things for someone in need, but is not willing to be a blessing to that person in meeting the need. James shows us here that if we claim to have certain beliefs and those beliefs are not reflected in our actions, then our faith is dead and worthless. James goes on to say that if what you claim to believe and what you practice are inconsistent, then demons have a stronger faith then you do. They believe in God, and their belief leads to action. They tremble in fear before the God they believe in. True, saving faith is something that is seen in what you do.

The applications regarding this point are endless. Almost every thing we may claim to believe based on our study of scripture applies here.

Do you believe the Gospel message is true? If that is the case, have you obeyed the Gospel yet? Do you believe the Gospel is the power of God to salvation? If so, do you share it with anyone? Do you believe God’s word is profitable and equips us for every good work? Well, do you read it? Do you study it? Do you believe Christians are commanded to be hospitable and to share what they have? If so, do you do these things? Do you believe God is one? That Jesus and His Father dwell together in love and unity? Well, do you do this with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Do you believe Jesus loved His enemies, was a blessing to those who mistreated Him, and did not retaliate when wronged? A living faith will strive to do likewise. Etc, etc.

If what you claim to believe about God and what He commands does not impact you practically from day to day, then your faith and your religion is worthless. James says that faith without works is as dead as a body without a spirit. Biblical, living faith is something that is seen in action in our lives. If you really believe something, it will impact you practically in some way.

POINT 3 - Worship/Service Based on the Traditions of Men ()

And our final point regarding how we can have a vain and worthless religion that is reflected in our speech is in how we either talk about our traditions, or how we speak of those who do not practice the traditions that we practice.

For this point, I would like to go to .

In this passage, Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees because His disciples ate food without first ceremonially washing their hands according to Jewish customs. In order to help his readers understand what was going on, Mark explained, “The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders” (). And he even added, “And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches” ().

The Pharisees thought their strict customs and traditions were necessary in order to keep people from accidentally breaking the Law of Moses by eating something “unclean.” However, Jesus’ disciples were not observing these customs; so the Pharisees were very critical of them and of Jesus.

It is in this context that Jesus says, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”” (, ESV)

They were teaching their traditions as though they were from God and criticizing those who did not keep them. When Jesus used Isaiah’s words to criticize the people of His day, He wasn’t criticizing the way they were praying or singing. He was criticizing their hearts and the way they were living.

It’s important to recognize that nothing in the context is about worshiping “the way we want” versus worshiping “the way God has told us in His word.” That is an important discussion to have, but it is NOT the discussion Jesus was having with these Jews. The problem here — the reason why their worship and service to God was vain — was because of how they, in the things they said and did, were exalting the traditions of men to an equal status to the commandments of God themselves. Their customs and traditions, which had been practiced for a long time, had become just as necessary in their thinking as God’s commandments.

And we continue to do such things today. Our worship is vain anytime we honor God with our lips, but we are more concerned with keeping the religious customs and traditions of our time than we are the actual commandments of God.

It’s interesting how many religious customs and traditions we have:

What time we meet for worship on Sunday.How many hours we are together on Sunday.Whether or not we have a Wednesday Bible study.Having Bible classes. The order of our worship. Having an invitation at the end of a sermon or during the worship period.Having a weekly sermon, or multiple weekly sermons.Etc, etc.

This is nowhere near an exhaustive list. None of these traditions and customs are inherently wrong; just as the washing of hands in Jesus’ day was not inherently wrong. But they become wrong when God’s people do a couple things.

First, when God’s people begin condemning others for not having the same traditions. If we condemn others for not keeping our traditions, we are lifting up our traditions to the same level as the doctrines of God. Second, when God’s people are more concerned about keeping these manmade traditions and customs than we are things like: loving our neighborloving our enemynot slandering anyone (including political leaders)not being materialistic or covetous

These are things God actually addresses and commands, but often we are more concerned with keeping our customs and traditions than we are obeying the actual commands of God. We may act like if we practice our traditions, we are just fine spiritually even though we are neglecting the weightier matters of the law.

When we do these things, we are guilty of “vain worship.” Or we may be like the Pharisees and criticize people — including our brothers and sisters, when they don’t observe our cherished traditions.

CONCLUSION

So, what type of religion do you have? What type of religion do you have? A worthless or vain religion that is more talk and less action? or a religion that is pure, undefiled, and fruitful before God?

Do our words and our actions line up? Are our actions consistent with our words? If we say or believe one thing, but practice things that contradict what we believe, it is possible that our religion — our worship and service to God is worthless & vain.

INVITATION

If we can help you leave here today having a religion that is pleasing to God — a religion that is fruitful and consistent, we would like to give you an opportunity to make things right today. If we can help you to obey the gospel, or if we can help you to overcome a sin in your life that is keeping you from serving God as you should, why don’t you make your need known today?