Sermon for 10/8/2006
Pure Religion vs. Bad Religion
Emphasis on James 1:26-27
Introduction:
Pure religion vs. Bad religion. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, in which thousands died through religiously motivated violence, this question arises. What is it that distinguishes pure, healthy religion from sick or bad religion? Is it true that all those who take religion seriously are sick or bad, like a few in our society have said? In 1970 Wayne Oates attempted to describe “sick religion.” He said it is, “self-contained, and lacks any measure of humility and teachableness.”
WBTU:
A. One of the definitions of Religion according to the dictionary is an integrated system of ceremonial observances for expressing belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator and governor of the universe.
B. Many believe that our religion is what saves us. We come to this building every Sunday and we have ceremonial observances. We have songs, prayers, reading of Scriptures, taking the Lord’s Supper or communion, taking up an offering, and preaching. Then sometimes we have baptisms because everyone who is religious has to be baptized at least once. Those who are really saved probably come and do it not just once, but two or three times in a week. Only the religious people are going to heaven.
C. Is that what the Bible says? It’s a trick question.
D. In the Bible reading plan, we had to go through the books of Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Let’s me tell you that is nothing but religion. Everything had to be done in a particular manner, a particular order, and on certain days and for certain sins different particular things had to be done. Ceremonial observances!
E. (Heb 10:11) Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
F. There are other faiths in the world that encourage people to be religious. The Muslims are people that have to pray at least 3 times a day and we see what the zealous Muslims do! Let’s not excuse Christianity. In the Crusades, Christians killed Muslims!
G. Paul says of himself in (Gal 1:13 NIV) For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.(Gal 1:14 NIV) I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Saul, later Paul, was an extremely religious man and he killed Christians and thought he was doing the right thing for his religion.
H. It is amazing to me to hear the prophets condemn the people’s religion of that day. The Jews religion came down from God. God is the one who gave them ceremonial observances and God is the one in the prophets who condemns those same religious observances. (Amos 5:21 NIV) "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. (Amos 5:22 NIV) Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. (Amos 5:23 NIV) Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
I. Well, those people were observing the wrong religion. We observe the right religion and so we are going to heaven. Let me tell you that in those days they had the right religion as well. What went wrong?
J. Our faith is not based upon religion, ceremonial observances. Our faith is based upon a person, Jesus Christ. I would rather have Jesus than religion. Why? We can have religion without Christ and suffer the pains of hell. Many people observe religious ceremonies but these are not the basis of our salvation. If our ceremonies do not lead us to Jesus Christ, then they are worthless and even worse, sin. Pure religion is an outgrowth of true faith in Jesus Christ.
K. Religion is all about what we do, the Christian faith is all about what Jesus Christ did for us. (Titus 3:5 NIV) he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
L. The last part of the verse talks about baptism. Even baptism can be a mockery if it doesn’t lead to Jesus Christ. It is all about what Jesus Christ did for me, not what I have done for religions sake.
M. The fact is that there are many who believe that they are saved because they go to church on Sunday morning. “I have performed my religious duty and because of that I am saved.” No, we are only saved because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross and through his resurrection. Because we love Jesus for this, we have ceremonies that lift up Jesus Christ. We are not saved because we are religious; we are saved in spite of our weak religion. We cannot reach God; God is the one who reached us through Christ.
N. The Greek word for religion is rarely used in the New Testament.
O. Let me say this before we look at these other verses that mention religion, all of these verses have little to do with church services. Good reason for that! These three verses all mention things that occur outside of the church walls.
Thesis: These verses tell us what pure religion is according to the New Testament. Let’s look at them.
For instances:
I. 1 Timothy 5:4
A. Caring for family, repaying or compensating their parents.
B. Put their religion into practice. KJV says show their piety (religious devotion) in the home. If someone says they are religious, if they have pure religion, it will be shown at home among their parents, siblings, spouse, etc.
C. Christian religion will make a big difference in the home. IT is evident that we do not have religion in the home today. Today’s families are breaking up or have domestic violence issues all of the time.
D. Christian religion is best lived out in the home. This takes place outside of the church walls. How well are we doing? If the church would just live out faith in the home, it would transform this world. Pure religion is proved in the home.
E. Some make religion their scapegoat for not taking care of their parents. (Mat 15:3 NIV) Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? (Mat 15:4 NIV) For God said, ’Honor your father and mother’ and ’Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’(Mat 15:5 NIV) But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, ’Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’(Mat 15:6 NIV) he is not to ’honor his father ’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.
F. Our religion should make us thankful for our parents or guardians who raised us. They could have aborted us, they could have left us. I am now more thankful for my parents, the sacrifice they gave.
II. James 1:26-27.
A. First, call upon the widows and orphans in James 1:27. Give them companionship. Look after them.
1. James knew all about religion. James was a leader in the Church in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the home of Judaism. Surrounded by people concerned, zealous about their religion. Even in the church I am sure that James had to deal with this old mindset. Our salvation is based upon keeping religious observances found in the New Testament.
2. James begins to shoot down this idea right at the end of the first chapter. He says that if we really have Christian religion, then it will be displayed in taking care of those who are in distress.
3. Mainly, to show comfort and compassion to those in distress it has to be done outside of the church walls.
4. This echoes back to the words of Jesus in (Mat 25:34 NIV) "Then the King will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.(Mat 25:35 NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,(Mat 25:36 NIV) I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’(Mat 25:37 NIV) "Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? (Mat 25:38 NIV) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in or needing clothes and clothe you? (Mat 25:39 NIV) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’(Mat 25:40 NIV) "The King will reply, ’I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
5. James is saying that a truly religious person is actively concerned about the people who are in the greatest need.
6. I must say that this church seems to be doing just that.
B. Conversation will be polite. Vs. 26
1. Yes, a man can appear religious on Sunday’s but if he hits his thumb with a hammer on Monday morning and lets out a bunch of profanities, James tells us that his religion is worthless. It does refer to being polite in our conversation. A man who uses filthy language is not polite.
2. Reminds me of a conversation that I had with a friend of mine at a football game. Somehow the conversation turned to church and his Sunday school teacher was just down the way shouting profanities at the referees.
3. (Eph 5:4 NIV) Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
4. Those who appear to be the most religious have the vilest tongues. They talk against this one and that one.
5. (James 3:9) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. (James 3:10) Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
6. So negative, but the Bible says (Phil 4:8 NIV) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
C. James 1:27- They will not be corrupt, polluted. Remain unspotted by the world.
1. We all live in an unholy world.
2. The sad fact is that some people come to church on Sundays and they believe that they have done their duty for God. They leave and they don’t give another thought to God. They live just like everyone else. They cheat and steal and commit adultery and live like the devil. But hey, they are religious and so they are going to heaven.
3. (Heb 12:14 NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
4. This cannot be done in the church walls. Everyone is holy in the church walls, but to go out into the world and to not be polluted by those things, this does not come from religion, it comes from Jesus Christ.
5. What we listen to can pollute us. What we watch can pollute us. What we participate in can pollute us.
6. (James 4:4 NIV) You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
7. I love swimming around in the cess pool of the world’s filth and sin. That is not pure religion.
Conclusion:
Christianity is not about religion, it is about Christ. (Col 2:16 NIV) Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.(Col 2:17 NIV) These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
