YBible Thoughts Y

December 20, 1998

The religion of Jesus Christ is something that one practices; it is not something that one gets. The religion of Jesus Christ can be taught to individuals; it is not something granted in some mysterious manner. The religion of Jesus Christ is taught in the Word of God; it isnot found in the works of men. The religion of Jesus Christ is practiced by the individual; it is not practiced by human institutions.

The religion embraced by disciples of Christ is pure, that is, "as being cleansed"(Vine). That pureness is kept for so long as one follows the pure teachings of the word of God. The blood of Christ cleanses the disciple and the disciple, in practicing religion, has that blood applied to his heart.

The word undefiled means "free from contamination" (Vine). Men defile its purity when they change the standards revealed by God, or redefine what constitutes that which is acceptable in the sight of the Lord. One is cleansed and remains free of defilement so long as the word of God is respected and followed.

Pure religion is not only from the heart, but is carried out in one's actions. One is to "visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." Visit means to "inspect, to look upon, care for..."(Vine). When opportunity presents itself to see to the needs of those who are mentioned, the disciple will do what is possible to help relieve those in want. A heart of compassion will lead the Christian to practice what James is encouraging.

Pure religion is "to keep oneself unspotted from the world." Not only are there actions(as above) that are required of the disciple, but holiness of life must also be evident. It one gave all of his/her substance to the care of the needy, but failed to live a life of righteousness, the sacrifices would be unacceptable to God. Indulgences paid to a religious institution or the performance of some great deed will not cancel the requirement to live a life of holiness. However sacrificial one may be, that will not insure one is acceptable to God.

Some brethren mistakenly believe that one can establish a human institution, attach it to the church, send a few dollars a month to the institution and practice "pure religion." Such is not taught in the word of God and those who have, in the past century, established such organizations have divided churches and led in a march(now a runaway) toward creating another denomination.

Congregations who have stood firm against these innovations are strong in the word of God. Christians who put their faith in the word of God rather than in those who led in the institutional paths have remained true to the book. Such disciples can stand in the presence of God with the knowledge they did not yield to the pressures of more liberal brethren, but standing for the old paths, practice the pure religion James taught.

There are many kinds of religion that men practice. The only kind that will make one acceptable to Jehovah is that which is revealed in the New Testament. Follow that path all of your life and you will receive the blessings of God.