SERMON: “True and False Religion” (James 1:26–27)
“True and False Religion” (James
1:26–27)
Series: “James:
True Faith Works” #9 Text: James 1:26–27
By: Shaun
Marksbury Date: December 8, 2024
Venue: Living
Water Baptist Church Occasion: PM Service
I.
Introduction
How many people have heard the expression that Christianity
is not a religion but a relationship?
There’s some truth to that, in that we value our relationship with
Christ more highly than any external religious practices. We also know that there are those who claim
to be Christian but don’t live like it.
There is vain and worthless religion. In Acts 26:5, Paul uses the word to speak of
his Pharisaical religion, one that rejects Christ. Paul also uses a related word in Colossians
2:18 to speak of a “religion” or “worship of the angels,” meaning those who
create cults around the angels of God rather than God. Eusebius, a church historian who lived much
later, also spoke of another cult, the “religion of the demons.” Although the Gospels do not record Jesus
using this word, He does warn against practicing one’s faith for the benefit of
being seen by others (Matt. 6:1–18). It
would be wrong then, as James argues here, to assume that one’s religious practices
equal God-honoring commitments.
There is a Christian application of the term “religion,” though,
as James notes here. He explains that certain
criteria mark true and false religion.
So, this evening, we’re seeing a contrast between two different kinds of
religion. So, we only have two
points. We’ll consider the marks of
false religion, and then we’ll see the marks of true religion. Let’s consider the first one.
II.
First, Consider the Marks of False Religion
If anyone thinks
himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his
own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
James begins by talking about a person, perhaps in the
congregation of believers, who has an opinion of himself or herself. In this case, it’s that he is religious. Perhaps you hear a sense of
self-righteousness there, as most people today would rather say they are
spiritual instead of religious. However,
that can be the same pride, thinking of oneself as having a right spiritual
state when others do not. For the sake
of discussion, though, let’s continue thinking about the word religion for now,
since it’s the word James chose here.
James likely used this word because it was a term in use at
the time. For instance, Paul used
“religion” to describe the Jewish faith in Acts 26:5. It can refer to “external trappings, rituals,
routines, and forms.”[1] This
can just as easily refer to the Christian faith, which has church attendance,
prayer, Bible reading, ordinances, etc.
Yet, this can be negative if that is all that it means.
As these Jewish Christians scattered from Jerusalem, they
would encounter all manner of beliefs and practices in the Roman world. They would rightly identify that anything not
of Christ is pagan. And they might have
a sense of satisfaction in knowing the truth.
Yet, knowing the true faith doesn’t mean one is changed by it.
In fact, there are those who may have the true religion in
one sense, but it is false in practice.
False religion, James tells us, deceives the individual and is
ultimately worthless in God’s eyes. What
marks such empty religion?
A.
First, False Religion Centers on External
Appearance
We’ve already begun considering this first point. There can be ceremony without sincerity in
Christianity. We must guard against this
in our faith.
The Pharisees were prime examples, as Jesus warned in
Matthew 6:1–18. In that first verse, He
says, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by
them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” He goes on to describe how they would call
attention to themselves as they gave or as they prayed. Christians must beware focusing too much on appearances.
This is especially if they lack the internal godliness that
true faith produces. The problem is that
someone may genuinely feel good about some external work whether they are a
believer or not. So, how does someone
determine whether the heart is right?
James gives a simple test next.
B.
Second, False Religion Fails to Control the
Tongue
James singles out speech as a test of genuine faith. He does this because Jesus did, as well. Jesus said in Matthew 15:19, “For out of the
heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false
witness, slanders.” In that list, Jesus
includes sins of the tongue, and James here points us to the tongue as a source
of determining true and false religion.
What does he mean by “bridling” the tongue, though? We get the sense that this means to control
our speech, and that is correct. The
Greek word means to place a bit in the mouth and leading. This may be why the NIV renders this, “keep a
tight rein on their tongues.” With a
bridle, a rider chooses the direction of the horse, and Christians should have
control over our mouths.
We see this desire throughout Scripture. Psalm
39:1 says, “I will guard my ways
that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a
muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.”
Psalm 141:3 says, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over
the door of my lips.” James develops
this thought more in James 3:2–12.
Nothing better describes the thought of a God-honoring tongue than one
that is bridled to the Word of God.
Through heavenly wisdom we can control what a tongue speaks
or doesn’t speak. That’s what James was
saying in v. 19. Someone with false
religion, however, doesn’t have these cares, and he shows it with an
unrestrained, reckless use of words.
The unbridled tongue often shows itself in slander, gossip,
or harsh words. It doesn’t matter if the
tongue also professes an orthodox faith; it should not tear down. If our faith doesn’t transform our speech,
it’s evidence that something deeper is amiss.
That leads us to the last point:
C.
Third, False Religion Is Self-Deceptive
James warns, “he deceives his own heart.” This parallels the thought that he is
self-deluding (v. 22). Christians need
instruction reminding them of their need for self-control, for those who refuse
to bridle their tongues may convince themselves that they work the will of God,
but they fool themselves with each and every choice they make.
In fact, the self-deception may be covering up a deeper
reality. Perhaps a person is trying to
fool himself into thinking he’s a genuine Christian when he is not. This is why the professed believer is living
with such a lack of self-control — because the control of the Holy Spirit is
not there for him to access.
Note that this leads to a “worthless” religion! The NKJV uses the word “useless” here.
This is the most disturbing part of this verse. When Jesus spoke of the wheat and the tares,
He meant that there would be those involved in church life who lacked eternal
life. They live and grow next to the
genuine wheat, but lack a healthful quality and sap the life like weeds. They are false converts and may not even know
it, and the fact that they never bridle their tongue is here given as evidence
of their true nature.
Even if this is a
genuine Christian who is living in a very worldly way, whatever religion he
thinks he has is useless and vain. I
knew of one pastor in Pensacola made his name in part by what he calls
“truth with an attitude.” He seems to
enjoy calling fellow Christians “fools” and “nuts,” and stoops to use of blue
language to further describe those not in his camp. He likewise has little respect for the image
of God in non-believers, making racist remarks against blacks, for
instance. His repeated offenses against
the Holy Spirit have opened him up to multiple divorces and strange beliefs about
aliens, outlandish government conspiracies, time warps, etc. The heart that doesn’t care about guarding the
tongue will corrupt other areas of life and faith and result in a useless and
self-deceiving religion. The Holy Spirit
commands us to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and avoid foolish
controversies that only breed quarrels (2 Tim 2:23).
Empty religion doesn’t fool God, even if it may fool others
at the start. Even then, it will become
apparent to others. False religion
ultimately leads to futility. It’s centered
on mere externals, it fails to practice self-control over the tongue and other
areas of the life, and it is self-deceptive; it’s worthless before God and man.
Now, that would be bad if we just left it there. However, the Lord gives us a reprieve in the
next verse through James. We’ve
considered the expressions of false religion, so let’s now consider the marks
of true religion.
III.
Second, Consider the Marks of True Religion
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.
There is a true expression of religion before God and man
meaning that we can properly apply the term “religion” to Christianity. Again, the contrast that James makes here is
not between religion and non-religion (which would have its own problems). The issue here is the difference between false
and true religion in the church.
Though we’re sinners, we don’t have to settle for a double-minded
religion. He uses two adjectives, “pure
and undefiled,” which hearken back to OT ceremony. Yet, here, as one commentator notes, “It is
apparent that God’s emphasis is not on religious ritual but on right living.”[2] God is holy, and we must approach Him in the
manner He prescribes.
A person who is living a pure and undefiled religion understands
that he is living “in the sight of our
God and Father.” As 1 Corinthians 10:31
says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory
of God.” Someone with true religion is
living for the glory of God, not for the whims of the moment.
So, if you want a genuine, pure and undefiled faith before
the Father, then you must allow the implanted Word of God to change you. You must allow it to grant you an ability to
control your tongue, as we considered with the previous verse. It gives growth to true religion in your
heart, which grants you compassion for others and holiness from the world.
A.
First, True Religion Grants You Compassion for Others
James gives a very specific example that all his Jewish
readers would have appreciated (Deut. 14:29; Job 31:16, 17, 21; Psa. 146:9; Isa.
1:17, 23). True religion expresses
itself in acts of mercy: “to visit orphans and widows in their distress.” The KJV reads “fatherless” because of the
importance of having a male protector in the home in the ancient world, and the
same would apply to widows. In
Scripture, these groups symbolize the vulnerable and helpless (cf. Exod. 22:22;
Psa. 146:9). Caring for them reflects
God’s heart, “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows” (Psa.
68:5).
As such, we have a ministry to the fatherless here at this
church as well as having people who engage in adoption and foster care. When someone loses a spouse, life may have
similar challenges and tribulations. For
instance, a woman may be faced with entering the work force for the first time
in years, if she is able, or she may be unable to care for herself if she
doesn’t have family around.
The person with true religion will visit the orphans and the
widows. As one study notes, this means “to
go to see, to inspect, present tense for habit of going to see.”[3] This is why pastors will make both hospital
and home visitations. The Puritan pastor
Richard Baxter once wrote about his habit of personally visiting with each
church member once a year, and he would have given extra care to those in
need. Yet, this is not just a command to
pastors, but to all believers; I’m so glad to hear that many of our members
visit each other!
Practical examples abound. I remember one person saying how much it moved
him to hear about a widow in a church whose air conditioning failed in the heat
of summer; within hours, the deacons had gathered in her home with a replacement.
In 1 Timothy 5, Paul gives instruction
for caring for needy widows, saying that the true widows (v. 3) — those who
don’t have family and are too old to care for themselves — should be put on a
list (v. 9) for the church’s care.
James again echoes the teaching of his older brother. Consider Matthew 7:21–23 in contrast to
25:31–46 (v. 36 utilizes the same Greek word for visit). Both passages involve works, but the first
passage involves spectacular works while the second involves seemingly
insignificant works. In fact, both the
sheep and the wolves are surprised by the King’s words; everyone considered it
a small thing to visit those in need.
The sheep are on the right side because they don’t care that the widows
and the orphans provide nothing in return.
The sheep of Christ know that the widows and the orphans and the others
need assistance. From the Roman Empire
of James’ writing until today, the world sees children and the elderly as
burdens to life and society and will even kill them in some cases; Christians
save lives. The godly see the need in
those created in the image of God and yearn to help like Christ helped
us—serving those who can do nothing in return.
The marker of true religion is not if you do your works to get
noticed by God and others, but if your works flow naturally from the faith in
your life.
This shows us one aspect of true religion. Yet, there is another. A person will also be changed in how he talks
and thinks, as we see next.
B.
Second, True Religion Grants You Holiness from
the World
The next part of this verse continues to describe “pure and
undefiled religion in the sight of our
God and Father” — it is also “to keep oneself unstained by the world.” James also calls believers to keep themselves
holy or separate from the world. The
NKJV here says, “unspotted.”
The world refers to the system of values opposed to God. For instance, pride, lust, and greed (1 John
2:15–17). While believers live in the
world, they must guard against its influence, echoing Romans 12:2: “Do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” God’s
power is what we need to remain unspotted, but we must allow His work in us.
James will even revisit this in James 4:4. He says there, “You adulteresses, do you not
know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of
the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Those who have a pure and undefiled religion do not let the world taint
their faith.
When I was first working through this passage over ten years
ago, there were certain fads in the world.
In my notes, I have down that several churches incorporated the 2012
K-Pop sensation “Gangnam Style” into their Sunday morning worship, and 2013 saw
many more churches doing the “Harlem Shake.”
It didn’t stop then, and it seems like every blockbuster movie is a
chance for a church to transform the decorations in the sanctuary for some
cheesy skit which will tie it into a preaching point. Now, Christians can and should have fun, as
we have a cause for great joy. Yet, we
certainly cannot allow our worship services to be stained by the world just so
we look cool and exciting to get more people in the doors.
Holiness means living distinctively. Just as churches should not adopt worldly
gimmicks to draw crowds, true faith in each one of us doesn’t compromise to fit
in. Christians are called to be lights
in the darkness, not mirrors of it.
We can know that we have true religion because the gospel of
Christ has transformed our heart to have different cares. It’s not merely a checklist but evidence of a
life submitted to Christ. As Martin Luther said, “We are saved by faith alone,
but the faith that saves is never alone.” Works of compassion and holiness are the
fruit, not the root, of salvation.
IV.
Conclusion
What kind of religion do you practice? Is it a mask for appearances, or does it flow
from a heart transformed by Christ? James
reminds us that outward rituals mean nothing if they lack inward change. Yet, a faith rooted in Christ will naturally
produce compassion for the needy and a life unpolluted by the world.
Perhaps you find that yours is a true faith, but it is not
as strong as it should be. Lay aside any
false way, then — don’t focus on the externals, and seek the wisdom and power
of the Lord so that you can practice self-control and not deceive
yourself. He will help you to grow where
you need strength, including in compassion for the poor and true holiness. Let us honor God with true religion which displays
His grace to a watching world.
[1] John MacArthur Jr., Ed., The MacArthur Study Bible, electronic ed., (Nashville, TN: Word
Pub., 1997), 1928.
[2] J. Ronald Blue, The
Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 2, 823.
[3] A. T. Robertson, Word
Pictures in the New Testament, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Jas
1:27.
