Together in Christ: 'Beyond Being Religious' — James 1:26-27

Many people in James' ^[1] world, much like in our world, claimed to be religious ^[2] - or spiritual. However, the early church took Jesus at His word when He insisted that He was the only way to God ^[3] and to true spirituality. The apostles insisted that there was no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. ^[4] For disciples, both then and now, this means that Jesus is our standard, our example, and our truth. His words and life call us to a holy standard and define what "authentic spirituality" should be for all of us as His disciples.

James insisted that people who claim to be religious or spiritual, yet who don't control the use of their speech and don't lovingly care for orphans and widows but allow the world to creep in and stain their character, are fooling themselves. They mislead and deceive themselves! Jesus said something similar:

"A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." ^[6]

"...the words you speak come from the heart - that's what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you." ^[7]

James gave us these alignment checks to help us discern the authenticity of our godliness and spirituality. So, dear friend in Jesus, we regularly need to examine our life alignment to these three tests for authentic spirituality. Just as a car needs its wheels aligned to track correctly, our lives must align with Jesus' values. We must strive to...

1. Control the use of our speech so that it is a blessing, not harmful or profane.
2. Care for the fatherless and the widowed, especially those struggling through difficult circumstances.
3. Commit to being pure and holy to honor God while not allowing the world's corruption to stain our character.

Each of us will fall out of alignment occasionally, so these three clear points of alignment will help us track more perfectly with God's will as we follow Jesus, as God forgives us of our failings, ^[8] and as the Holy Spirit transforms us to be evermore like Jesus. ^[9]