Authentic

Authenticity

First Baptist Church Gantt

Gantt Alabama

July 13,2005

Verse by verse study of the book of James

James 1:26

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

Go back and read from verse 19 to verse 26

The word religious – Adhering to or showing religion.

The word religion is only mentioned in the new Testament five times.

Warren Weirsbe defines religion as The outward practice, the service of a god.

The book of James has many references to speech – It must have been very important in Jerusalem at the time he wrote this letter.

It is important today

This verse discusses being authentic.

Being true to religion.

How can one be untrue if character of the mouth is not bridled.

James Almost reiterates what he had said in verse 21 but with a Equestrian twist.

The difference is here he cuts to chase of one religion.

Compare real grapes to Raisins

They are still grapes

Cannot be used in as many ways as a fresh grape.

Grape jelly made with fake grapes.

Does the mouth embody fake religion.

Does your mouth prove God or destroy the witness of God.

A.T Robertson makes this statement

Religion (Speaking about the Pharisees) came to consist in the ceremony alone, the letter and not the spirit, the hull and not the kernel.

It is good to have the inside of the cup clean.  How much more important is it to have the inside clean?

          ILLUSTRATE

Using The name Jesus is vain is using the Lords name in vain.

I swear to God!

What kind of witness is this?

Is pure religion coming from your mouth or is your religion made with fake grapes.

Deception is implied in the latter part of verse 26

Deceived – It is self deception to have religious practices that do not lead to pure undefiled religion that is (worshipping).

A person can:

          Attend church Regularly

          Contribute liberally

          Attend prayer meeting

          Have family prayer

          Be a church member

This person may have RELIGIOUSITY but not have religion.

James is saying here that we are deceived when we have to interpret our own religious beliefs and that they can be kept inside.  That is inside of our own realm of associations.

You are deceiving others as well as yourself when your actions are not consistent with everyone you are around.

Let people know you are a Christian.

If you are ashamed of it, you are a deceiver.

Satan is the great deceiver – are you allowing yourself to be his agent?

Bridle your actions so that they go in the direction of the one true God.

Outward religious practices are useless without total obedience.

You simply cannot be obedient if you cannot control your mouth.

James does not say how the tongue offends but common sense and the word of God will reveal how it does.

Here are some ways that the tongue can offend God –

Gossip

Angry outburst

Harsh criticism

Complaining

Judging

Do you let your tongue wag you

                   or

Do you wag your tongue.

Almost a catch 22

In this verse we see the tongue regarded as an unruly horse.

The tongue will say whatever a spiteful heart prompts.

The bit will be used in chapter 3 more extensively.

Her we see the concept of the bridle that connects to the bit.

It is the outside force that operates the bit.

A pillar of the church acts religious on Sunday but return to his normal ways on Monday. 

          How ell broke is this man?

Illustrate a neck reigning horse.

This pillar of the church is an influence on those around him.  He is deceiving those around him by his complacency

He is a stumbling Block to those who judge religion by him.

He has built a wall of separation between him and true religion.

Maturity is when you control your tongue.

Proverbs tells that often a fool will not head the instruction of a wise person.

Therefore sometimes a wise person will not say anything and allow the fool to learn the hard way.

To sum this verse up:

James puts a powerful challenge to the world that is coming more and more tolerant of the idea that religion is just what you want it to be – I say not if you worship the one true God.

Do not mistake the performance of religious acts for the spirit of religion.