1. Occasionally when I have witnessed to someone I have been asked, “What religion are you,” or “What’s your religion?” I know that what they are asking me is what denomination am I.

2. In James 1:26-27, we see James talking about religion. The word “religion” is found five times in the New Testament. Two of those occurrences are in our text. The word “religious” is found twice in the New Testament. One of those occasions is in our text,

3. What does the Bible mean when it talks about religion? At the very beginning let me make it clear that when the Bible speaks of religion, it is not talking about denominations.

4. I have met a few people that put more stock in their denominational label than they did anything else. I think of a story about three Churches in a little town. There was a Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist Church. They were all struggling to exist. They finally decided that the only way they could survive was to merge. They all gathered to discuss the merger and the question came up what they would name the church. Finally after much discussion and dissension, one suggested that they call it a Christian Church. One fellow jumped up and said, “I was born a Baptist, I grew up a Baptist, I have never been anything but a Baptist, and no one is going to make a Christian out of me.”

5. Whereas there are some that make a big deal out of their denomination, George Barna stated in his book Absolute Confusion that traditional Church affiliations are becoming less significant to people. He found that two-thirds of all adults (62%) believe that “it does not matter what religious faith you follow because all faiths teach similar lessons about life.”

6. I would not agree with that assessment and believe that it has dangerous implications. However, I will say that there is something more important than what denomination we belong to. I have been asked what I would be if I were not a Baptist and my reply has been very simple. I would be no different than what I am now. I am a Baptist by choice and conviction, but my faith and practice is not based on what the Baptist believes but on what the Bible says. I do not live by the Baptist Confession of Faith but by God’s eternal word.

7. What does the Bible mean when it speaks of religion. The word “religion” as found in our text speaks of the outward and external observance of our faith. It implies that there has something happened internally and is manifested externally. It speaks of the acts, deeds, and service that result from our faith. When we talk about religion we are talking about what we have on the inside reveals itself by what we do on the outside.

8. As we look at James 1:26-27 we see that he describes two types of religion. We see a religion that is condemned and a religion that is commended. Let’s notice these two verses and notice first of all that James describes a:

1. VAIN RELIGION!

1. We read in verse 26, “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.”  Notice carefully the last five words of verse 26, “this man’s religion is vain.” James is describing a vain religion.

2. What is vain religion? We see that James gives a two-fold description of vain religion. First we see that he describes it as having:

A. Appearance Without Reality

1. James says, “If any man among you seem to be religious.” This man has an appearance of being religious. He seems to be religious. From all appearances he is a religious man.

2. This is the kind of person who others would call a “religious man.” The people down at the office would say of him, “If you want to talk about religion, so and so is the person you need to talk to.” The neighbors would say, “So and so is always goes to church every Sunday. He is always doing things at his church. He is a very religious man.”

3. When you look at what James says we see that this man actually thinks he is religious. The word, “seem” means “to think, with the implication being that he seems.” This is a man who thinks he is religious. Yet we see that James says there is a difference in thinking you are religious and actually being religious.

4. One of the emphases you find in the book of James is that what a person really is will be revealed in their life. As we shall see later in our studies, in 2:14-26, James states that if a person has something on the inside it will be revealed on the outside. He tells us that if there is faith there will be works. He speaks of a believer’s works as the evidence they have been saved.

5. James states in verse 26 that vain religion likewise reveals itself. Notice that he describes this man as one who, “bridleth not his tongue.” He is one who does not keep a tight rein on his mouth.

6. Jesus stated in Matthew 12:34 that the mouth is a tattletale on the heart. He said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

7. Jesus said that what came out of the mouth revealed what was in the heart. He was saying that our words reveal what we really are.

8. I heard about one woman that was known for gossiping that came to the altar and told her pastor that she wanted to lay her tongue on the altar. He said to her, “Sister, this altar bench is about 12 feet long. Lay as much of it as you can on it.”

9. James describes a man that thinks he is religious and has the appearance of being religious, but what he says reveals otherwise. He is one that is constantly talking about others and putting people down. James says that his unbridled tongue reveals that his religion is vain. He may appear to be one thing, but he is lacking in reality. He is not what he appears to be and his tongue gives evidence of that.

10. A person can come to Church on Sunday, dressed up in their Sunday going to meet duds, with a pious look on their face, and not be religious. If you really want to know what a person is like, don’t measure them by what you see on Sunday. Check them out on Monday if you really want to know about their religion.

11. In the case of the man in verse 26, he has the appearance of being religious and even thinks he is religious, but the evidence is against him. He thinks he is religious but in reality is far from the ideal.

12. Also notice that James not only speaks of vain religion as having appearance without reality, but also of having:

B. Activity Without Results

1. In verse 26 we see that this man “deceiveth his own heart,” and, “this man’s religion is vain.” The word “deceiveth” as used here actually means, “to cheat.” The word “vain” means, “without results.”

2. We saw in our last study that in verse 25 that James stated a one who is a doer of the word “shall be blessed in his deed.” Real religion results in blessings, but vain religion cheats a person out of those blessings. Vain religion is one in which there are no spiritual results or blessings.

3. A person can put on the appearance that they are religious, but mere appearance never results in spiritual blessings.

4. The honor code for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is as follows: “A cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal; nor tolerate anyone who does.” This honor code is so stringent that even one violation at any time during the four years of study, including even the day before graduation, requires automatic expulsion of the guilty party.

5. Real religion does not lie, cheat, or steal. But in the case of vain religion there is cheating. It is a violation of God’s code and results in expulsion from God’s blessings.

6. Secondly, notice that James not only speaks of vain religion but also of:

2. VIRTUOUS RELIGION!

1. We read in verse 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.”

2. In verse 26 we see what man thinks about his religion. In verse 27 we see what God thinks about a mans religion. In verse 2 James describes a religion that is pure and undefiled “before God and the Father.” He is talking about a religion that is acceptable to God.

3. This kind of religion calls “pure” religion. The word “pure” speaks of that which is clean and refers to our motives. He also describes this kind of religion as being “undefiled.” The word “undefiled” means to be, “without stain.”

4. Just as vain religion manifests itself, so does virtuous religion. James speaks of two ways that this kind of religion manifests itself. First we see that this religion is:

A. One Of Practical Service

1. In verse 26 we see that the motive is self-centered. He thinks of himself. But in verse 27 we see that virtuous religion is pure. The motive is not self-centered, but others is the focus. In verse 26 we find one hurting others, but in verse 27 we find one helping others.

2. James says that pure religion is this: “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.” As I mentioned earlier, religion involves service. In this statement, we see the service of true religion.

3. James speaks service to orphans and widows. James is not limiting service to this class, but points out a certain class of people with specific and special needs. In the Bible days, there were many orphans and widows, and as you can imagine they had many needs.

4. The word “visit” speaks of more than just dropping by for a visit and saying hello. The word means, “to care, to exercise oversight, to help.” The verb in our text comes from a noun that gives us the word “Bishop,” one that is an overseer. The thought is found in 1 Peter 5:2 when the bishop or pastor is told to, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof…”

5. The word “affliction” speaks of the pressure that comes from one’s circumstances. James is talking about caring for others, reaching out to others, and helping others during the difficult times of their life. It speaks of watching out for them, looking after them, and to seeing that their needs are met. Again, vain religion thinks of themselves, but virtuous religion thinks of others. 

6. As we noticed in verse 26, vain religion cheats a person out of blessings, but virtuous religion results in blessings.

7. I think of a story that I read in a couple of commentaries I have been reading on James. A preacher preached on Sunday about heaven and the next day he met a wealthy member of his church. The member said to him, “Pastor, that was a great message you preached on heaven, but you didn’t tell us where heaven is.” “Ah,” said the pastor. “I am glad of the opportunity this morning. I have just returned from the hilltop up yonder. In that cottage there is a member of our church. She is a widow with two little children. She is sick in one bed and the two children are sick in the other bed. She doesn’t have anything in the house—no coal, no bread, no meat, and no milk. If you will buy a few groceries, then go up there yourself and say, ‘My sister, I have brought these provisions in the name of the Lord Jesus.’ Then ask for a Bible and read Psalm 23, and then go down on your knees and pray—and if you don’t see heaven before you get through, I’ll pay the bill.” The next day he saw the church member and he said, “Pastor, I saw heaven and spent fifteen minutes there as sure as you are listening.”

8. If you have ever cared for others and reached out to help them, then you know what the fellow was talking about.

9. I remember when I was pastoring in Boone, North Carolina. It was around Christmas and we decided as a church that we would find a family that had real needs and do something for them for Christmas. We checked with certain agencies and learned of a family that was in dire need. We got the names and ages of the children, their clothes sizes, etc., and bought them all toys, clothes, and food for the whole family.

10. One of the deacons and myself carried the gifts to the family. We had a station wagon loaded with gifts. When we knocked on the door, three children with dirty faces and nothing but rags for clothes open the door. We asked if their mom and dad were at home and the oldest, which looked about 12, said, “Daddy had to take mommy to the hospital.” We told them who we were and that we had some Christmas presents for them.

11. When we stepped into the house it broke our hearts. The only piece of furniture in the living room was an old car seat that was being used for a couch. There was an old coal stove that they used to heat the house. They didn’t have a Christmas tree so we piled the gifts up in a corner. You should have seen the looks on those children’s faces. I wouldn’t trade for a million dollars the memories that I have of those little eyes that were so lifeless when those children first opened the door, that were filled with excitement and joy. As we stacked the gifts in the corner, we would call their names out, and they would say, “Is that mine?”

12. In the kitchen there was an old refrigerator that was covered in rust. The only thing on the inside was a jug of water. We filled that refrigerator with food and left boxes of food beside it. When we left, those kids were digging through those boxes of groceries. Before I left, I wrote a note to the parents that simply said, “We just wanted you to know that we love you and want you to have a merry Christmas.” I signed my name and churches. A couple of weeks later, that deacon and I went back to that house. When I knocked on the door, a man opened the door slightly and said, “What do you want?”

13. When I told him who I was, he jerked open the door and grabbed me by the hand and pulled me through the door. He hollered, “Honey, come here. That preacher is here.” Then he turned to me and said, “You’re a famous man around here.” That is the only time I have been called famous. That man and his wife kept grabbing me by the hand and thanking me for what we did. The children kept tugging at that mom and dad’s arm saying, “Mommy, Daddy, that’s the man that brought me my toys and new dresses.” They just kept thanking me over and over. The real blessing of the whole story is that before I left there, I had the privilege of leading that mom and dad to Christ. You can sure that I saw and spent some time in heaven in that little home.

14. There are no blessings to a vain religion, but a virtuous religion, one that serves others, will be rich with blessings. Secondly notice that James speaks of this virtuous religion as:

 B. One Of Personal Separation

1. It is not only a pure religion, one in which others are the motive, but it is also “undefiled.” James says in verse 27 that an undefiled religion is one in which a person “keeps himself unspotted from the world.”

2. The word “unspotted” is has the same basic meaning as the word “undefiled” and means, “to be without blemish.” The world speaks of a system that is opposed to God and going in a opposite direction.

3. In verse 26 we see ones life spoiled and stained by an unbridled tongue, but in verse 27 we see one that is unspotted by the world. James is telling us that virtuous religion involves personal separation.

4. I think of Romans 12:2 and the words, “And be not conformed to this world…” One writer translated the words, “Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold.” Both Paul and James are saying, “Don’t let the world influence you or shape the way you live or think.”

5. James describes one that appears to be religious and one that is actually religious. In closing let me ask you a question. What kind of religion do you have?