Title: Undefiled Religion-James 1:23-27
Contents
The motto of the Reformer J. Calvin was Coram Deo. He lived a life of piety with the temple consciousness 'in front of God'. J. Wesley started the Holy Club movement for piety training at Oxford University. How much do we strive for godliness with the temple ritual 'before God' in our lives? Do you do business before God? Do you study before God? Do you work before God? Are you living your life of faith before God?
It is difficult to see people working hard for godliness. Paul warns in 2 Timothy 3 that among the signs of the time of suffering in the last days, there is a phenomenon in which there is a form of godliness but the power of godliness is denied. According to Paul, the characteristics of the last days are clear in this age, so we should feel great fear. And we must strive for a life of godliness without impurity. To attain undefiled godliness,
First you have to gag your tongue
In the book 'Being happy' by Andrew Matthews, we see a person complaining to a friend. "I'm sick of living. I don't want to be a burden to my family anymore. Is there any secret to being happy?" Then the friend answers. "Okay, save your words first. You have to control your mouth. Also, don't criticize yourself. Don't say things that are abusive to yourself. Say something positive and constructive. Then you yourself can like you and your positive words Others will like you as you listen to it." After a while, he meets the friend again and says, "I'm still unhappy." After hearing this, I ask myself a question. "How long will that friend be unhappy?" And answer. "Until you say you're happy!"
This is verse 26. “If anyone considers himself religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is in vain.” A bridle is a tool that the rider puts in the mouth of the horse he rides. Bridle in English. The horse is sick and stuck and he is gagged to follow him. And the jockey gags the horse and leads it where he wants to go. In the text, 'to bridle the tongue' is 'control his tongue'. That means adjusting your mouth. A person's godliness is in vain if he does not control and control his tongue. I mean, it's just a shell. If you cannot control your mouth as a believer, you are not a true believer. Faith cannot be measured by words, but true faith must be controlled by faith.
James dedicated chapter three of his epistles to be careful with words. In 3:2 it says, "We all make many mistakes, and if there is no error in what he says, he is a perfect man." And he warned about the dangers of the tongue, saying, "The tongue defiles the whole body and sets the wheel of life on fire, and its devouring comes from the fires of hell." Therefore, we must accept James's lesson of caution. For godliness, we need to be more careful with our words in the church. We need to be careful with words that blame God, words that condemn others, words that slander us, and dark and negative words. Please believe that true godliness will be realized only when words and deeds are harmonized, and moving, power, and blessings will come.
Second, we must look after those who have suffered.
This is verse 27. "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." Here, 'orphans and widows' is a generic term for the poor and marginalized at that time. Also, to 'look around' does not mean to look around, but to help. Giving practical help to neighbors in need is true godliness. They feed when you are hungry, give you water when you are thirsty, clothe you when you are naked, and take care of you when you are sick. Therefore, godliness is not a matter of language or philosophy, but of practice and action.
True godliness can only be achieved through love for those who are in affliction. Regardless of income, Wesley spent only 28 a month throughout his life, and the rest was spent helping neighbors. When he died, he left only a silver spoon as his legacy. He was a righteous man who practiced undefiled true godliness. Please spread your love for your neighbors. I believe that you will rejoice in the wonderful progress of godliness.
Third, don't be tainted by the world.
This is the second half of verse 27. “And this is what keeps itself unstained from the world.” The world here is different from the world. The world is the place of life for those who took up the cross because God loved them. But secularism refers to the various kinds of sins that people commit. It is the opposite of righteousness or holiness. James warns that anyone who does not know how to protect himself will be stained by the world and that a godly life will bring ruin.
When the fish are alive, they are not salty at all, even when swimming in salty waters. However, dead fish easily absorb salt and become salty purpura, which is served on the table. A living person is able to protect himself from being polluted by the world. Please, the saints must not be polluted by the world. It is because only those who do not lose themselves from the world can come to God. Self-defense is a form of self-control. In order to attain true godliness, there must be the virtue of temperance. No matter how great talent and great knowledge you may have, if you do not have self-control, you are in danger.
All godly people do not live according to the worldly winds. We do not live according to the lusts of the flesh. We conform ourselves to God's standards and live according to the desires of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, believers should do their best to attain undefiled godliness. In order to attain true godliness, we must follow the teachings of James. Please gag your tongue. Look out for those who are afflicted. And I pray in the name of the Lord that you will become all the blessed saints who receive the rich blessings that godly people receive by protecting themselves from being polluted by the world.