True Religion

July 16th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

James 1:26-27 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. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Elsewhere in the Greek NT, the root for “religious” in vv. 26 and 27 is only used in Acts 26:5 and Colossians 2:18. It is a general term for worship, especially as it relates to some outward practice or ritual that honors a god. Instead of singling out Christianity as a faith of good works related to its confession of Christ, James seems to have been emphasizing the core of all religions, namely good works. He lists three of them as tests for “pure and undefiled religion.”

The first test of any religionist is to “bridle his tongue” (cf. 1:19-20; 3:1-12; 4:11-12). As the bit and bridle are instruments for the rider of a horse to control a horse (cf. 2 Kgs. 19:28; Isa. 30:28; 37:29), so too does one with true religion control his tongue through the influence of his god. Those who fail to do so not only deceive themselves into thinking they are pleasing to their god, they worship that god through a “worthless” (Gr. mataios) religion. This word is translated elsewhere in the NT as “meaningless” in relation to idol worship (Acts 14:15; Rom. 1:21; Eph. 4:17). James thus believes that the religion of those who cannot control their tongue is idolatry. But those who speak with self-control, who live without duplicity, are properly “religious.”

A second test of true religion is reflected in those who are concerned for the helpless (cf. 2:1-13, 15-16; cf. 5:1-6), and James specifies “orphans and widows in their distress.” These two groups were the most needy in the first century and prior. Since women were not professionals in the work force, and since there were no state welfare agencies to aid them, widows and orphans were unable to provide for themselves and needed to be cared for by God’s people. God not only commanded Israel never to afflict the widow or orphan (Ex. 22:22), He demanded that they be cared for (Deut. 14:29). God condemned Israel when they failed at this, reminding them to seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the fatherless, and plead the widows cause (Isa. 1:10-17). It is no wonder that James referred to God as “Father” in v. 27, for God Himself was a “father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows” (Ps. 68:5). Since God accomplished this through His people, in order to prove they were His people, they were to obey this ordinance.

A third test of true religion is for its adherents to keep themselves “unstained by the world,” that is, to avoid worldliness (cf. 4:4-10). This means that true religion is not bound up simply in charitable acts; it must also be followed with moral behavior that reflects a heart dedicated to God. Where Christianity is concerned, those who have looked at themselves in the spiritual mirror and have seen their depravity (1:23-25) and turn toward God to save them out of their sinful rebellion against Him, it is these who have ended their war with God and have been reconciled to Him through faith in Jesus Christ. The product of this peace with God (Rom. 5:1) is a new life in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) where the believer strives to distance himself from his prior life of sin and to keep himself from being influenced—from being “stained”—by the unbelieving world where he lives. This is indeed true religion, reflecting the worship of the only true God.

Food For Thought
The Christian life is not a life not of empty religion but of faith that produces works. It’s about controlling our tongues, speaking the truth in love, and helping those in need. As we live and breathe in this world, we are to maintain a distance between ourselves and the corrupt influence of the worldly system that tempts our lusts. We are those who not only profess love of Christ and others with our lips, we demonstrate that love in action. That is true religion.