Articles
Worthless Religion
Interestingly, the Bible seldom uses the words religion and religious. One’s religion is his beliefs and practices, particularly as they relate to God. When we describe a person as religious we generally mean he is pious, devout, or godly. In common usage, religious is occasionally a synonym for dedication or faithfulness: for example, one is religious about his diet or exercise—or not!
James observed, “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” (1:26). He makes two vital points.
First, our religion may be worthless. While that may be bluntly stated, it is too often precisely the case.
One’s religion is worthless if he believes things that are not true. The Athenians were “very religious in all respects” (Acts 17:22), but they were idolaters who worshiped in ignorance (v. 23). They needed to repent (v. 30). Some of the Corinthian Christians had come to deny there is such a thing as resurrection from the dead. Paul reasoned that if that were so their faith would be vain and useless (1 Corinthians 15:12-17). The Bible puts a premium on truth. We are sanctified in the truth (John 17:17). The truth makes us free (John 8:32). We must therefore constantly verify that what we believe is what God’s word teaches.
James, however, focuses on another cause of worthless religion: too little application of the truth. It does us no good to believe the truth if we do not apply it. And the application James has in mind is not to church participation or worship—things we typically associate with religion—as important as those are. Just as the Old Testament prophets frequently did, James points to one’s daily walk as the oft-missing application of his religion. James uses speech as an example. A man who speaks angrily or bitterly, who lies, who gossips, who slanders, who constantly complains or criticizes, who uses profanity, or who otherwise fails to bridle his tongue, is a man with worthless religion, no matter how often or zealously he prays or sings hymns. Obviously, that same principle applies to other areas of conduct as well.
The second vital point our text makes is the danger of self-deception. If the Pharisees could pray long prayers while devouring widows’ houses (Mark 12:40), we, too, might convince ourselves that we have sufficient religion, based on a few observances. Worship must not be undervalued, yet it must always be counter-balanced by godly living. Micah summarized: "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (6:8).
