James Religion

 

James

Religion

THE POWER AND STRENGTH OF THE HORSE IS CONTROLLED BY THE REINS

Your religion is worthless if you don’t keep a tight rein on your tongue

We have been called to speak on God’s behalf 1 Peter 4:11 KJV

We are called to speak blessing, not insult or evil 1 Peter 3:9

We are to speak blessing, not cursing Romans 12:14

James says a little later in the Book

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.

My brothers, this should not be. James 3:10

Keep Religion Pure

Don’t let loose the reins on the tongue

If you cannot support from God’s Word, your words, don’t say it

If you cannot speak with the love, compassion and mercy of God, don’t say it

Know the heart of God and the Word of God

Because God has called you to preach the “Good News”

You are called to speak, just keep a tight rein on your tongue

 

 

Religion

 

How do you define religion or religious?

 

Over the course of my life time I find

people have a hard time defining these words.

 

I have found many religious people

who do not want to be labeled religious.

 

Much of this comes from our views of religion.

 

The Greek definition is…

 

 “Ceremonial Observance”

 

Jesus spent much of His ministry

condemning the religion of His day.

 

We find Him in sharp rebuke of religious leaders.

 

In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples call His

 attention to the great buildings where

ceremonial observance took place.

 

Jesus says…

 

"I tell you the truth,

not one stone here will be left on another;

everyone will be thrown down." 

Matthew 24:2

 

It is clear to see Jesus’ disciples and the religious

leaders took a lot of pride in their buildings.

 

Sadly, our religious ceremonies

can pollute our religion.

 

The Scriptures from Old Testament to New

reveal God finds faults in our religion.

 

James tells us…

    

 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress and

to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.  

James 1:27

 

Pure Religion serves God by serving others.

 

Buildings are important, religious symbols,

even bumper stickers can have their place.

 

But they are not our pure worship.

 

It is serving God by serving others.

 

It is also…

 

 “To keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  

 

Now if you agree with what James has said and

you want a life of serving God by serving others…

 

 James has one more piece of advice…

 

If anyone considers himself religious

and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue,

he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 1:26

“Keep a tight rein on your tongue.”

 

World pollution is at an all-time high.

 

I am not talking of the emissions of toxic gases

and waste, but the emission of toxic words.

 

The world is full of polluted words.

 

Unchecked, unfiltered words

are produced in record levels.

 

People have never been freer

to say what they feel.

 

 Free speech has become freedom to hate.

 

The “F” word has become the filler word

 in every sentence because some don’t take

time to think of the right words to say.

 

50 years ago the message of “if it feels

good do it” had become our liberty.

 

It has never been harder to

keep a tight rein on the tongue.

 

Whether you want to call yourself

religious, a Christian, a follower of God,

a Baptist, a Catholic, or Non-denomination…

 

Your religion is worthless if you don’t

keep a tight rein on your tongue.

 

We have been called to

speak on God’s behalf.

 1 Peter 4:11 KJV

 

We are called to speak blessing,

 not insult or evil

1 Peter 3:9

 

We are to speak blessing,

not cursing.

 Romans 12:14

 

James says a little later in the Book…

 

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.

My brothers, this should not be.

James 3:10

 

Keep Religion Pure!

 

Don’t let loose the reins on the tongue.

 

If you cannot support from

God’s Word, your words…

 

 Don’t say it.

 

If you cannot speak with the love,

 compassion and mercy of God…

 

 Don’t say it

 

Know the heart of God

and the Word of God…

 

Because God has called you

to preach the “Good News”.

 

 You are called to speak, just

keep a tight rein on your tongue.

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 1:26-27 NIV

 

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.