Pure Religion

Meditations in the Season of Lent 

March 13, 2023

Pure Religion

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

James 1:27

Read: James 1:19-27

When I began with these Lenten meditations on the Book of James last Thursday, I noted James was concerned that the people in his church may be deceiving themselves that they were in a right relationship with God. James said their lifestyle did not differ substantially from the surrounding culture.

John Wesley struggled with this same issue. He saw people seemingly doing the right things: going to church; placing money in the offering plate; singing the hymns; etc. But, like James, he also saw that the way these people were living was not much different from the world around them. Wesley concluded these people were holding to a form of religion, but that their religion lacked the power to change lives. James’ conclusion was very similar.

We will see over the next two weeks that the Book of James is a lesson in practical Christianity and provides us an excellent opportunity to examine ourselves to see if we are seeking to have our lives changed through our faith in Jesus. James puts it this way:

“But don’t just listen to God’s word.

You must do what it says.

Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”

(James 1:22) 

My Takeaway: Several pundits have noted recently that the partisan divide that is so prevalent in today’s political culture is also becoming prevalent in many churches. James’ imperative is vitally important to the Christian communities today: refuse to let the world corrupt you. (v.27)

Amen!

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2023 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.