Young People's Group

PURE AND UNDEFILED RELIGION

by Pastor Mitch
August 14, 2005

The Danger Of Having A Useless Religion

Faith must always be accompanied by works. There are some who consider themselves as religious but their lives do not show for it.

“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.”
James 1:26

It is common for people to be deceived into thinking that they have genuine faith in the Lord even when they do not practise the truth. They do not know how to control their tongue. When our faith is not translated to good works, we may end up with a useless religion. Young people, let’s truly ask ourselves what kind of religion do we have? Let’s truly seek for a pure and undefiled religion.

Practising Pure And Undefiled Religion

How can we go about practising this?

1. Being Conscious Of God As Father

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this:”
James 1:27

James addressed the need for people to be conscious of the Lord. In a world where self has become the prominent entity, there is a higher and greater Being that we, as Christians, must constantly be mindful of. He is our God and Father. We must be ever conscious of His presence and we are to live the way that He wants us to. If God truly has been a great Father to us, then we should practise true religion before Him.

2. Commitment To Help The Needy In Their Time Of Trouble

“To visit orphans and widows in their trouble”
James 1:27

The word “visit” in the Greek does not just refer to visiting those in need. It includes the idea of relieving the poor and the needy. We are to relieve the orphans and widows who are in great affliction. In ancient Israel, the man was the sole bread winner of the house. Those families without fathers would often end up with poverty and difficulties in life. Our challenge for us is to be committed in helping those who are in trouble.

3. Guarding Ourselves From A Life Of Sin

“And to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
James 1:27

Furthermore, we will also maintain lives that are not morally tainted by the world. In this degenerated world, it is easy to be influenced and controlled by its fleshly ways. James wrote of the need to lay aside all filthiness (James 1:21). We are to seek for the Lord’s cleansing. After the Lord has cleansed us, we must also seek to keep ourselves in an undefiled manner. We must guard ourselves constantly from the ways of the world. Young people, let’s practise true religion by ministering to the poor with all purity of heart.

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