(Edited excerpts of Pastor’s preaching during Tuesday night prayer meeting)

Religion is primarily a matter of the heart. It is loving and serving God with all our heart and with all our soul (Deuteronomy 11:13; Joshua 22:5; 1 Samuel 7:3; 12:24; Jeremiah 29:13; Joel 2:12; Ephesians 3:17; 1 Peter 3:15a). But it cannot be kept as a secret from others’ notice. The inner experience of religion will result in outward practice of it. One’s devotion of heart will manifest itself externally. Religion affects our whole conduct.

Such outward expressions will provide evidence to the real nature of one’s religiosity. In his epistle, James wrote about certain outward expressions of religious men in the church, which either proves or disproves their religiosity. He wrote, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (1:26-27). 

A specimen of vain religion
James’ major concern in verse 26 is about churchgoers whose “religion is vain”.

Vain religion is found within the church. Hence, the statement, “If any man among you”. By putting the matter thus, James also expects every man to deal with himself so that he might evaluate his religion. An individual inquiry ought to be done by everyone who “seem to be religious”.

Outward show of religion
James’ caution to his readers was against what “seem to be religious”. There is a need to guard against every kind of simulation in the religious life. There may be much zeal, as in the case of the Pharisees. There may be much apparent charity and benevolence towards fellow church members. There may be apparent love for God’s Word and commitment to God’s service. Each and all of these things may exist in the life of a man in whose heart there is no true religion.

People who feign to be religious are many in these last days. Hence, we need to examine ourselves to see whether we walk in true piety before the Lord. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Corinthians 13:5a).

The sin that proves vain religion
James specifies the sin that proves the vainness of all apparent piety of churchgoers. It is that of not bridling the tongue. According to verse 26, the apparently religious man who “bridleth not his tongue” is a man who “deceiveth his own heart” concerning his piety. This single uncontrolled sinful propensity cancels all appearances of religiosity, and shows that there is no true religion.

The person who speaks uncharitably, maliciously, slanderously, who gives ready utterance and free circulation to misrepresentations, suspicions, insinuations — who propagates false charges, or true ones in a bitter, envious or malignant spirit — assuredly bridles not his tongue. The reviler, the backbiter, the whisperer, the reckless, the instigator, the provocateur and the publisher of bad names and injurious rumours about fellow brethren are all guilty of not bridling their tongues. An unbridled tongue would also engage in swearing, cursing, jesting, perjury, frivolous talking and blasphemy.

Why does James make so much of the bridling of the tongue? It indicates a rooted deception of the heart. The man with an unbridled tongue may think he is right and just in saying what he says against others, though in reality his aggressive words are a manifestation of his insubordination, rebellion, jealousy, unforgiveness, pride and all such evil of heart. The tongue, let it be remembered, is regulated and ruled by the heart; for “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34, 35).

Proverbs 26 gives a clear description of the corrupt and heinous nature of the unbridled tongue. Here we are forewarned that seven abominations are found in the heart of the one who engages in malicious spreading of rumours. “He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; when he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin” (Proverbs 26:24-28).

Let us remember that religion is designed to bring the whole man under control, and to subdue every faculty of the body and mind to its demands. If the tongue is not restrained, and if there is any uncontrolled propensity to sin with the tongue, it proves that there is no true religion. So make the subduing and controlling of your tongue the subject of your daily prayer.

A specimen of pure religion
James then spoke of “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father”. This can be false piety, as no simulation can impress the all-knowing God. He is the Father of lights (James 1:17), and nothing is hidden from Him. Moreover, He is the source of “every good gift and every perfect gift”. Nothing impure and defiled will be acceptable to Him. Hence, only that which is consistent with His purity and goodness can be considered as pure religion.

Twofold expressions of pure religion
The first expression of pure religion, according to James, is “to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (v. 27a). Not all orphans and widows are in affliction. It is such who are in dire need and trouble that James is referring to. Every true Christian must be compassionate as his Father is, especially towards children and women who are in a peculiarly desolate and distressing condition. The duty specified is that of visiting these afflicted ones, which includes every kind of friendly, compassionate help that can be rendered — counsel, aid, defence, soothing their sorrows, supplying their wants, vindicating their rights, etc. We are to come into contact with them — to go to them in person — to minister to their needs.

The second expression of pure religion is “to keep himself unspotted from the world” (v. 27b). Here strict purity is enjoined. The world is corrupt and hence a very defiling thing. And, mind you, we are not even to be spotted by it, we are to guard against the slightest stain, avoiding all its vanities as well as its vices. From every kind of worldliness we are to “keep ourselves”. Be pure and kind, as your Father in heaven is.