religion . . .

[com7fy8]

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

So, "religion" that pleases God is helping orphans and widows and keeping ourselves from being spotted by this evil world.

 

[Mark Quayle]

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

So, "religion" that pleases God is helping orphans and widows and keeping ourselves from being spotted by this evil world.

I've always taken 'religion' to mean, merely, practice because of belief —not the belief itself, and not doctrine.

In this sense, liberalism, evolutionism, conservationism, etc, are not religions, in themselves, just as many Christians will say they don't believe in a religion, even though the dictionary will disagree with those Christians. But even the liberals (etc) may admit, they do pursue their creeds practically, and religiously.

 

[com7fy8]

I've always taken 'religion' to mean, merely, practice because of belief —not the belief itself, and not doctrine.

Well, visiting needy people in their trouble and keeping ourselves unspotted from this evil world indeed can be because of beliefs, but it needs to be mostly because of love.

And helping people needs to not be a one-size-fits-all practice. After all, each needy person is unique. And Jesus related differently with each unique person.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Well, visiting needy people in their trouble and keeping ourselves unspotted from this evil world indeed can be because of beliefs, but it needs to be mostly because of love.

And helping people needs to not be a one-size-fits-all practice. After all, each needy person is unique. And Jesus related differently with each unique person.

True that. Well pointed-out.

 

[Albion]

It sounds like James is saying that the fulness of the religious life must include such acts of love as those, and not stop short with doctrinal affirmations, worship services, and etc. That does not mean, however, that the latter are wrong or unimportant, just that for any religion to be "pure" or complete, it must do more.

James also speaks that way when he describes the genuine meaning of faith as opposed to half-hearted or merely formal one, a subject we've debated here many times.

 

[fhansen]

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27)

So, "religion" that pleases God is helping orphans and widows and keeping ourselves from being spotted by this evil world.

James is only reminding us that our faith, this New Way, involves real works of goodness or righteousness or else it’s all worthless. Paul implies similar things.
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.” Rom 2:7