James 1:27 KJV
[27] “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.”
After we have viewed ourselves in the mirror of God’s Word, we can begin to see others. The Word of God will produce compassion for others who are in need. We will see those who are struggling and in need of our assistance. Pure religion looks for an opportunity to serve both God and man.
Pure religion will put a desire in our hearts to live a godly life. It will create a desire to avoid the world. Whenever James uses the phrase “the world” he is talking about “a society without God”. To win the lost we must keep ourselves clean from the world. Pure religion will produce fruit. It will have a great impact on a filthy world.
The Bible teaches separation. It is one of the first doctrines found in Genesis chapter one. Yet our churches have become defiled by the world. Many churches have opened their doors to worldly philosophies and methods. Somehow they think this will reach the world if they become a little more like them.
Common sense says that if we are just like them, then why would they want to join us. If what we have is not different from what they have, then there is no need for them to desire God. They will never see their own filthiness if we wallow in the mire with them.
The world will take note of pure religion. They will mark clean living and Bible separation. They may not always accept it but they will know that we are different. They will see both the compassion it shows and the cleanliness that it produces. This is what they need to see and this is what we as believers need to reflect. Give me that old-time religion!