Scripture Post #1,112: *PURE RELIGION*

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."

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own. 

The word "religion" has been terribly misconstrued within certain Christian circles. Religion is not a bad thing. Religion is a belief-system. Christianity is a religion. Because it's the belief in CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOR. Atheism is the belief that there is no GOD. It's a religion (belief). People say things like, "I don't have a religion; I have a relationship with JESUS." Well, this just doesn't make sense. If you have a relationship with JESUS, your relationship is your religion. Because you *believe* that you and JESUS have a relationship. 

Now, the Pharisees practiced an evil religion. They weren't followers of GOD. For if they were followers of GOD, they wouldn't've despised HIS SON when HE (JESUS) entered earth! We mustn't make the mistake of calling those who uphold righteousness, Pharisees. And we mustn't make the mistake that JESUS was against religion. JESUS was against the Pharisees, for sure. But the Pharisees weren't religious. They were hypocrites. Meaning that they posed as GOD's people while actually were children of Satan, as JESUS stated. 

You want *PURE RELIGION*? Visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep yourself unspotted from the world (or clean from the sin of the world), as James 1:27 states. 

Originally Published: Tue. 9/29/15