Religion That God Desires

Now that these Christians can look intently at the perfect law of liberty, James gives three admonishments on how they can put it into practice. He lays out a test in a way. This test covers all types of people who think themselves to be religious. If one does not control his words but partakes in lying, cursing, slander, gossip, and vulgarity then they demonstrate their religion to be worthless.

This word in the New Testament points to something as vain as idols; something that cannot save the soul. Religion these days carries many negative connotations. But James establishes that there is a good type of religion; in fact, a pure and defiled one that our God and Father approves of. The second part of James's test for the one who claims religion is that one of genuine nature cares for orphans and widows.

This goes right in line with the Old Testament which demonstrates God's intense concern for these types of image-bearers. And the final aspect of James's test is that the truly religious person is one not just on the outside but inside. The one who is of true religion, that is Christianity, doesn't taint or mix holy things with the lusts of the world.