Pure and Undefiled Religion
James 1:27 says "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
New King James Version says that last part as "Keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Interesting. We hear lots in the Christian circles about how tired people are of "religion" and how we should rid ourselves of "religious spirits." I know what they are trying to say. What they are saying is they are tired of ritual with no relationship. They are tired of what Paul refers to in 2 Timothy 3:5(a) having a form of godliness but denying its power. They are tired of hypocrits. I don't disagree with the intent of what they are saying. I do want to be careful to watch "what" we say and "how" we say it.
God doesn't say to get rid of religion. In fact He gives us the very definition of what HE thinks religion is. He isn't saying avoid religion. He's saying, live it out the way I determined it was supposed to be.
Pure and undefiled religion is.....
Visit the widows and orphans in their distress
AND
Keep oneself unspotted from the world.
That's God's idea of religion. Let's unravel that a little. It seems pretty straight forward, one would think. But maybe not when you take a deeper look at it.
Widow: Means a woman who has lost her husband to a death. Yes it means that. BUT it also means a woman "devoid of a husband." The root word meaning indicates a "chasm," something missing. A gap that can't be crossed. A hole.
Orphan: Means yes, children without parents. BUT at it's root word meaning it also means of those without a teacher, guide, guardian. It also means "comfortless."
"In distress" means in their time of need: When they need a gallon of milk, tank of gas or rent payment or it means when they need someone to fix dinner for them so that they can run to the laundry mat. It can mean any number of things, the first starting point is to ASK THEM.
Wow, different meanings of those words if you think about it. Let's think about this. So in essence a widow can mean any woman who does not have a husband. That can cross different age ranges now can't it? That can cover women whose husbands have died, women who have never been married, or those who are divorced.
Orphans can mean those who have never had any comfort in their lives, including those who truly are fatherless or motherless or both.
God's idea is that we take care of the orphan, widow and stranger:
Deuteronomy 13 then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them."
Interesting side note: did you notice the Tithe coming into the "church" at that time was supposed to take care of the Levite (those without an inheritance of land), and widows, orphans, and strangers. It doesn't say to take care of electric bills and mortgages.
I want to show you something. All three of these categories of people have something in common. First do you notice that with the exception of "stranger" none of them are grown males? Secondly the thing they have in common is that none of them have "spiritual coverings."
God said that the man was to be the "head" of his wife like Christ is his "head." There is a hierarchical order in God's way of doing things. But the widow, orphan, and stranger do not have spiritual "heads" to watch out for their interests.
The stranger doesn't have a covenant with God. So therefore they don't have a covering. And the woman who is supposed to have a "head" over her is without covering when she is a widow. And the orphan should have a father covering them spiritually.
The church is to be their covering.
That's only the first half of the definition of religion as far as God is concerned.
Keep oneself unspotted from the world.
God's word says that Jesus is going to return for a church that is without spot, blemish or wrinkle. The world is in opposition to God. What God is saying here is the call to keeping yourself unspotted from the world is to walk in holiness and purity. Don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If you read my last entry you'll see a starting list of the lusts of the flesh and the works of the flesh. Lying, cheating, stealing, licentious living, drunkenness, adultery and fornication. Hey don't shoot the messenger here, I didn't come up with the list! :-) Go read Galatians 5!
So basically if we want to have pure and undefiled religion - (which is what I think those in the Christians circles are really crying out for when they talk about being tired of religion and wanting to rid the church of religious spirits) then start taking care of the widows, single-moms, divorcees, orphans, and those without a covenant with the Lord and also walk in holiness. It's as simple as that. I dare the church to start walking in pure religion - watch what happens when they do! They will no longer be holding to a form of Godliness but denying it's power. The power of the Church is found when we start loving those around us like Jesus did.
Have a great day!
In Christ,
Kelli
New King James Version says that last part as "Keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Interesting. We hear lots in the Christian circles about how tired people are of "religion" and how we should rid ourselves of "religious spirits." I know what they are trying to say. What they are saying is they are tired of ritual with no relationship. They are tired of what Paul refers to in 2 Timothy 3:5(a) having a form of godliness but denying its power. They are tired of hypocrits. I don't disagree with the intent of what they are saying. I do want to be careful to watch "what" we say and "how" we say it.
God doesn't say to get rid of religion. In fact He gives us the very definition of what HE thinks religion is. He isn't saying avoid religion. He's saying, live it out the way I determined it was supposed to be.
Pure and undefiled religion is.....
Visit the widows and orphans in their distress
AND
Keep oneself unspotted from the world.
That's God's idea of religion. Let's unravel that a little. It seems pretty straight forward, one would think. But maybe not when you take a deeper look at it.
Widow: Means a woman who has lost her husband to a death. Yes it means that. BUT it also means a woman "devoid of a husband." The root word meaning indicates a "chasm," something missing. A gap that can't be crossed. A hole.
Orphan: Means yes, children without parents. BUT at it's root word meaning it also means of those without a teacher, guide, guardian. It also means "comfortless."
"In distress" means in their time of need: When they need a gallon of milk, tank of gas or rent payment or it means when they need someone to fix dinner for them so that they can run to the laundry mat. It can mean any number of things, the first starting point is to ASK THEM.
Wow, different meanings of those words if you think about it. Let's think about this. So in essence a widow can mean any woman who does not have a husband. That can cross different age ranges now can't it? That can cover women whose husbands have died, women who have never been married, or those who are divorced.
Orphans can mean those who have never had any comfort in their lives, including those who truly are fatherless or motherless or both.
God's idea is that we take care of the orphan, widow and stranger:
Deuteronomy 13 then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them."
Interesting side note: did you notice the Tithe coming into the "church" at that time was supposed to take care of the Levite (those without an inheritance of land), and widows, orphans, and strangers. It doesn't say to take care of electric bills and mortgages.
I want to show you something. All three of these categories of people have something in common. First do you notice that with the exception of "stranger" none of them are grown males? Secondly the thing they have in common is that none of them have "spiritual coverings."
God said that the man was to be the "head" of his wife like Christ is his "head." There is a hierarchical order in God's way of doing things. But the widow, orphan, and stranger do not have spiritual "heads" to watch out for their interests.
The stranger doesn't have a covenant with God. So therefore they don't have a covering. And the woman who is supposed to have a "head" over her is without covering when she is a widow. And the orphan should have a father covering them spiritually.
The church is to be their covering.
That's only the first half of the definition of religion as far as God is concerned.
Keep oneself unspotted from the world.
God's word says that Jesus is going to return for a church that is without spot, blemish or wrinkle. The world is in opposition to God. What God is saying here is the call to keeping yourself unspotted from the world is to walk in holiness and purity. Don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If you read my last entry you'll see a starting list of the lusts of the flesh and the works of the flesh. Lying, cheating, stealing, licentious living, drunkenness, adultery and fornication. Hey don't shoot the messenger here, I didn't come up with the list! :-) Go read Galatians 5!
So basically if we want to have pure and undefiled religion - (which is what I think those in the Christians circles are really crying out for when they talk about being tired of religion and wanting to rid the church of religious spirits) then start taking care of the widows, single-moms, divorcees, orphans, and those without a covenant with the Lord and also walk in holiness. It's as simple as that. I dare the church to start walking in pure religion - watch what happens when they do! They will no longer be holding to a form of Godliness but denying it's power. The power of the Church is found when we start loving those around us like Jesus did.
Have a great day!
In Christ,
Kelli
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