Dangerous, Vain or Pure Religion?

Introduction: Definitions

A. DEFINITIONS:

• RELIGION: ceremonial observance:--religion, worshipping (Galatians 1:13,14 Paul a Jew saying: "The Jew's Religion")

Observances (middle ages english: ‘life under monastic vows’):r from Latin religio(n-) 'obligation, bond, reverence' Duty, Ceremony, Worship

B. Religion itself is not the end, it is a means/way to God.

James 1:19 &mdash Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

It is not that we choose once "pure" religion over dangerous and vain, but that everyday our pure religion is tempted with being contaminated to vanity or even dangerous.

I. "Dangerous" Relgion

I will begin with considering dangerous religion. This facet of the subject is not directly addressed by James in his epistles but it can be drawn by inferenece and parallels. Is religion dangerous? When does religion become a threat to that which is good and pure?

1. Christians Persecuting Christians (Viloence, Hate, Strife)

• There is undeniable and frequent connections between Religion and violence. (In 2006, "Is Religion the Root of all Evil?")

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

• For example, It is not that good relgion inspires the violence, but that the violent will avail itself to religion when useful. If you are looking for an excuse, you can find it.
• Unfrutiful argmuments and division.

2. Mistreatment of those of "Low Degree"; Respect of Persons (James 1:9; 2:1-13, v.9)

The temptation to avoid in appreciationg what we have and who we are is to look with disdain on those who have not or actively dishonor those things.

a. despising the young. 

Ambrose (AD 340-397) was born in Gaul (a region of the Roman Empire that encompassed modern France, Switzerland and parts of Germany, Italy and etc.) where his father was a governor. His family moved to Rome where Ambrose was raised to be a skilled poet, orator and lawyer. After practicing law in the Roman courts for a a time, he was named governor of an Italian province and headquarted in Milan. A Crisis arose athere when Biship Auxentius died and the city was divided over who should replace him. Ambrose called the city together to appeal for unity, but while he was speaking, a child cried out: "Let Ambrose be Bishop!" The crowed took up the chant and the 35 year old governor was elected the city's pastor. He combated paganism, heresies and resisted the control of civil powers over the church. He championded morality resisting the immoral whomever they were even emperors when necessary. Ambrose' ministry was also instrumental in the conversion of the well-beloved Augustine of Hippo. Augustine of Hippo also spoke of the moment of his conversion being inspired when he hear a child's voice say "Take up and read". In response to which he took up a bible reading Romans 13:13,14.

b. despising the poor. (Why are we hostile to others? We tend to **dislike** and **distrust** people if they are <u>different</u> from us. 1) Friend or Foe (Enemy)? and then 2) Competent? 

Brain scans were taken at Princeton University in 2006 by the neuroscientists Lasana Harris and Susan Fiske. They put volunteers in a scanner and showed them colour photographs of people belonging to different social groups. Some were clearly rich – for example, businessmen in fancy suits; while the appearance of others was such that they were obviously not just poor, but destitute.

When the volunteers looked at the pictures of homeless people, two-thirds were prepared to admit that their immediate reaction was one of disgust – which was interesting, and disturbing, in itself. But what interested Harris and Fiske more was the activity in the brain.

The brain scans had shown that when the volunteers were looking at pictures of rich people, the part of the brain activated that is activated whenever we see another person rather than an inanimate object. The brain signalling: 'same species here' and that tells us that we should relate to this other thing in front of us as a fellow human being, rather than a lawn mower or a pigeon.

But when the people in the scanner were shown the pictures of homeless people the medial prefrontal cortex failed to do its thing. Instead the areas of the brain associated with disgust were activated.

3. Hearers and NOT Doers (Hypocrisy and Judgmentalism)

Mt 23:1 ¶ Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

• Unrealistic standards (Impossible goals) can be the result dangerous religion as it is not rooted in any practicality.

• An eight-year-old thinks he should be good at everything he does. When he watches baseball, he automatically assumes he should be able to catch, throw, hit, and run like the pros. “If I played Major League Baseball, I would probably steal a lot of bases.” Of course you would, son. It’s obviously not as easy as the professionals make it look. Good sermons, quiet times, and conversations with fellow believers excite and encourage us in the moment --- But applying a sermon on Monday morning is difficult.

• A Demand with HELP/GRACE: Mt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

II. "Vain" Religion

James 1:26 — 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. 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.

• Vain: It does not do the thing it is suppose to. (Religion itself is not the end, it is a means/way to God.)

A. Seem to be Religious

• "seem" -- having the reputation; supposed; to think
• piety: the quality of being religious or reverent; devout; strong belief in a religion that is shown in the way someone lives

1 Timothy 5:4 — But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

• So-"Called" Christian

Unrealistic Expectations: (Perception versus reality)

1. You’ll Always Be Happy (Joy vs. Happines, Suffering)
2. Your Kids Will Be Christians
3. All Christians Get Along
4. You Won’t Struggle With Sin

A famous Holiness preacher, Bud Robinson, was taken by friends to New York and shown around the city. That night in his prayers he said, "Lord, I thank you for letting me see all the sights of New York. And I thank You most of all that I didn't see a thing that I wanted!"

5. Christians Always Feel Like Serving
6. Believers Do Not Experience Spiritual Doubts
7. Your Marriage Will Be Healthy (Divorce rates can be loosely comparable between Christian and non-Chirstian marriages alike.)

B. Unbridled Tongue and the Seemingly Religious

• There were things being said. "readiness to speak of the faults of others"
• James 3, How is Glorified if out of the same mouth we BLESS GOD and CURSE our brother? (James 3:9)
• James 3:14, A LIE is AGAINST the truth
• Bridled by what?

C. Self Deception

Mt 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

III. Pure Religion

The claims and professesion we make are no where near as important as how we act in the light of those confessions.

James 1:27 — 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.

Pure Religion is dangerous to the enemies of God.

A. It is Before God (God's Standard is what matters): PIETY

In the Bible, piety is used to mean proper honour and respect toward parents (1 Timothy 5:4). In Acts 17:23, the Greek verb is rendered "ye worship," as applicable to God. 3 Biblical Examples of Piety:

1. Anna, Luke 2:36-37 "...departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

2. Cornelius, Acts 10:1-2 "...A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always."

3. Daniel, Daniel 6:10 "... he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God"

Their religion is PURE in God's eyes as CLEAR & CLEAN of sinful ambition. Pure Religion is evidence of PURE faith.

James 2:1 — My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

B. Not Offending in Word

• Remember: James 1:26

James 3:2 — For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

• It is not that our words DO NOT MATTER (Hearer Only) but that to God, it ALL MATTERS!
• offend: To cause to fall, or sin.
• Sowing in Peace: (not instigating or "stirring up")

James 3:18 — And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

C. visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction

• visit: … to go to see … :) Understanding someone's need often isn't possible without first "see through their eyes."
• REVERANCE --- visitation --- "Respect of Persons" --- Who gets your attention? (by extension: WORSHIP)
• Who deserves our charity?
• Without seeking return (or return is not even possible.)

D. to keep himself unspotted from the world.

• What is the competing concern? To be contaminated by someone else's misfortune.

• do not allow the world to CORRUPT you

• Spotted through Lack of Diligence

2 Peter 3:14 — Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Matt R. mentioned his pigs smell like maple syrup. My boss commented when he keep pigs for a time. He would washup and dress for work and then being so careful when feeding the pigs. But no matter how careful he was, when he returned to the house those in the home could tell where he had been. CAREFUL ENOUGH?

• Spotted by False Teachers (UNcharitableness)

Jude 1:12 — These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

• During covid heard alot of people whole generally could care less what the Bible says, while threatening churches with closure: "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR".

Do not be changed by their philosophies. (let God be true!)

• The surest cure:

1 Jo 2:15 — Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.