The World on the Verge of a Great Crisis
Fany man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 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” (James 1:26, 27).
There are few other verses in the Bible mentioning the word “religion” (Acts 26:5, and Galatians 1:13, 14). However, only in James 1:26, 27 do we find a definition of pure and undefiled religion.
Many Christian writers have said that being religious is not synonymous with being a Christian. When I was attending an English course in Roanoke, Virginia, the teacher, an American lady, said: “The American people are very religious people, but this doesn’t mean that they are Christians.” I shall never forget her words.
When we think about religious people, it immediately comes to our mind that they are persons who attend church on regular days and at specific times. They may carry the Bible with them, wear special clothing, fulfill specific rules, and give a good impression about themselves. At church they behave properly, sing hymns, and listen to some beautiful sermons, and so on.
Is this an accurate depiction of religious people? Yes. Are they Christians? Well, it depends on their relationship with Christ.
When, where, and how did this word “Christian” come into existence?
In Acts 11:26 we find the following information: “And when [Barnabas] had found [Paul], he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year [Paul and Barnabas] assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
We do not find in the Bible an undue concern about the title of the Christian church. They did not have a sign in front of the houses where they would meet. They could not do that because they were an underground church. They were persecuted by the Jews, who called them “the sect.” But the pagans began calling the believers “Christians” for a reason.
E. G. White explains why they were called “Christians”:
“It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. The name was given them because Christ was the main theme of their preaching, their teaching, and their conversation. Continually they were recounting the incidents that had occurred during the days of His earthly ministry, when His disciples were blessed with His personal presence. Untiringly they dwelt upon His teachings and His miracles of healing. With quivering lips and tearful eyes they spoke of His agony in the garden, His betrayal, trial, and execution, the forbearance and humility with which He had endured the contumely and torture imposed upon Him by His enemies, and the Godlike pity with which He had prayed for those who persecuted Him. His resurrection and ascension, and His work in heaven as the Mediator for fallen man, were topics on which they rejoiced to dwell. Well might the heathen call them Christians, since they preached Christ and addressed their prayers to God through Him.
“It was God who gave to them the name of Christian. This is a royal name, given to all who join themselves to Christ. . . .
“The believers at Antioch realized that God was willing to work in their lives ‘both to will and to do of His good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:13). Living, as they were, in the midst of a people who seemed to care but little for the things of eternal value, they sought to arrest the attention of the honest in heart, and to bear positive testimony concerning Him whom they loved and served. In their humble ministry they learned to depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit to make effective the word of life. And so, in the various walks of life, they daily bore testimony of their faith in Christ.
“The example of the followers of Christ at Antioch should be an inspiration to every believer living in the great cities of the world today. While it is in the order of God that chosen workers of consecration and talent should be stationed in important centers of population to lead out in public efforts, it is also His purpose that the church members living in these cities shall use their God-given talents in working for souls. There are rich blessings in store for those who surrender fully to the call of God. As such workers endeavor to win souls to Jesus, they will find that many who never could have been reached in any other way are ready to respond to intelligent personal effort.
“The cause of God in the earth today is in need of living representatives of Bible truth.”1
There are many points in the above quotation that must be emphasized:
Antioch was the place where the believers were first called “Christians.”
1. The reasons why they were thus called are mentioned as follows:
a. Christ was the main theme of their preaching, their teaching, and their conversation.
b. They dwelt upon His teachings, and His miracles of healing.
c. They spoke of His agony in Gethesemane, His betrayal, trial, and execution, His forbearance and humility with which He endured His sufferings.
d. His resurrection, ascension, and intercession received special attention their.
2. It was God who gave them the name of Christians, a royal name given to all who join themselves to Christ.
3. They sought to arrest the attention of the honest in heart.
4. They depended upon the power of the Holy Spirit to make effective the word of life.
5. In the various walks of life, they bore daily the testimony of their faith in Christ.
6. The example of the followers of Christ in Antioch should be an inspiration to every believer today living in the great cities of the world.
7. The cause of God in the earth today needs living representatives of Bible truth.
“The watchful Christian is a working Christian, seeking zealously to do all in his power for the advancement of the gospel. As love for his Redeemer increases, so also does love for his fellow men. He has severe trials, as had his Master; but he does not allow affliction to sour his temper or destroy his peace of mind. He knows that trial, if well borne, will refine and purify him, and bring him into closer fellowship with Christ. Those who are partakers of Christ’s sufferings will also be partakers of His consolation and at last sharers of His glory.”2
“A mere profession of faith in Christ, a boastful knowledge of the truth, does not make a man a Christian. A religion that seeks only to gratify the eye, the ear, and the taste, or that sanctions self-indulgence, is not the religion of Christ.”3
In James 1:26, 27, the apostle mentions three basic aspects of true Christian life.
In verse 26 it is written that if a person “seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” The apostle continues with this point in chapter 3, verses 2-12.
In verse 2, he declares that “if any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Here we find a very essential aspect of Christian life. If, by God’s grace, we control our tongue, then we have power to control the whole body. James follows his explanation by exemplifying it with the bit that controls the horse and the helm that controls the great ships.
In verse 8 he says that no man can control his tongue. Without God’s grace, man has no power to control himself. Christ said in John 15:5: “Without me ye can do nothing.” On the other hand, Paul wrote that we “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth” us (Philippians 4:13).
“Through the help that Christ can give, we shall be able to learn to bridle the tongue. Sorely as [Christ] was tried on the point of hasty and angry speech, He never once sinned with His lips. With patient calmness He met the sneers, the taunts, and the ridicule of His fellow workers at the carpenter’s bench. Instead of retorting angrily, He would begin to sing one of David’s beautiful psalms; and His companions, before realizing what they were doing, would unite with Him in the hymn. What a transformation would be wrought in this world if men and women today would follow Christ’s example in the use of words!”4
The second and a very important point James mentions about “pure religion” is the practical side of religion. The Holman Christian Standard Bible thus translates James 1:27: “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
“The pure religion of Jesus is the fountain from which flow streams of charity, love, self-sacrifice.
“A Christian is a Christlike man, a Christlike woman, who is active in God’s service, who is present at the social meeting, whose presence will encourage others also. Religion does not consist in works, but religion works; it is not dormant.
“Many seem to feel that religion has a tendency to make its possessor narrow and cramped, but genuine religion does not have a narrowing influence; it is the lack of religion that cramps the faculties and narrows the mind. When a man is narrow, it is an evidence that he needs the grace of God, the heavenly anointing; for a Christian is one whom the Lord, the God of hosts, can work through, that he may keep the ways of the Lord of the earth and make manifest His will to men.”5
In Matthew 25:31-46 is presented two classes of people compared to sheep and goats, and Christ says that the sheep will be at His right side and the goats at His left side.
“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
“The Saviour devoted more time and labor to healing the afflicted of their maladies than to preaching. His last injunction to His apostles, His representatives on earth, was to lay hands on the sick that they might recover. When the Master shall come, He will commend those who have visited the sick and relieved the necessities of the afflicted.
“The tender sympathies of our Saviour were aroused for fallen and suffering humanity. If you would be His followers, you must cultivate compassion and sympathy. Indifference to human woes must give place to lively interest in the sufferings of others. The widow, the orphan, the sick and the dying, will always need help. Here is an opportunity to proclaim the gospel - to hold up Jesus, the hope and consolation of all men. When the suffering body has been relieved, and you have shown a lively interest in the afflicted, the heart is opened, and you can pour in the heavenly balm. If you are looking to Jesus and drawing from Him knowledge and strength and grace, you can impart His consolation to others, because the Comforter is with you.”6
“There are those who would think it lowering to their dignity to minister to suffering humanity. Many look with indifference and contempt upon those who have laid the temple of the soul in ruins. Others neglect the poor from a different motive. They are working, as they believe, in the cause of Christ, seeking to build up some worthy enterprise. They feel that they are doing a great work, and they cannot stop to notice the wants of the needy and distressed. In advancing their supposedly great work they may even oppress the poor. They may place them in hard and trying circumstances, deprive them of their rights, or neglect their needs. Yet they feel that all this is justifiable because they are, as they think, advancing the cause of Christ.
“Many will allow a brother or a neighbor to struggle unaided under adverse circumstances. Because they profess to be Christians he may be led to think that in their cold selfishness they are representing Christ. Because the Lord’s professed servants are not in co-operation with Him, the love of God, which should flow forth from them, is in great degree cut off from their fellow men. And a large revenue of praise and thanksgiving from human hearts and human lips is prevented from flowing back to God. He is robbed of the glory due to His holy name. He is robbed of the souls for whom Christ died, souls whom He longs to bring into His kingdom to dwell in His presence through endless ages.”7
“Christ regards all acts of mercy, benevolence, and thoughtful consideration for the unfortunate, the blind, the lame, the sick, the widow, and the orphan as done to Himself; and these works are preserved in the heavenly records and will be rewarded. On the other hand, a record will be written in the book against those who manifest the indifference of the priest and the Levite to the unfortunate, and those who take any advantage of the misfortunes of others and increase their affliction in order to selfishly advantage themselves. God will surely repay every act of injustice and every manifestation of careless indifference to and neglect of the afflicted among us. Everyone will finally be rewarded as his works have been.”8
The last portion of James 1:27 gives us another very essential characteristic of true Christians: They keep themselves “unspotted from the world.”
The apostle Paul wrote: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
Before uniting with Christ, humans are “dead in trespasses and sins,” walking “according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience,” and “by nature” they are “the children of wrath, even as others” (Ephesians 2:1-3). After their surrender to the Lord, they are “quickened” “together with Christ” (verse 5). Now he or she becomes alive to Christ and dead to sins and to the world.
Paul also affirms that Christ “died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Having been justified, the believer knows that the “old man is crucified with [Christ], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth” he or she “should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).
About those early Christians, we read that they “were united in sentiment and action. Love for Christ was the golden chain that bound them together. They followed on to know the Lord more and still more perfectly, and in their lives were revealed the joy and peace of Christ. They visited the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and kept themselves unspotted from the world, realizing that a failure to do this would be a contradiction of their profession and a denial of their Redeemer.”9
“When the Lord comes forth as an avenger, He will also come as a protector of all those who have preserved the faith in its purity and kept themselves unspotted from the world. It is at this time that God has promised to avenge His own elect which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them.”10
“It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted from the world. It is now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we must awake and make determined effort for symmetry of character. ‘Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts’ (Hebrews 4:7). We are in a most trying position, waiting, watching for our Lord’s appearing. The world is in darkness. ‘But ye, brethren,’ says Paul, ‘are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief’ (1 Thessalonians 5:4). It is ever God’s purpose to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, and rest out of weariness for the waiting, longing soul.
“What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth - these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity.
“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God - candidates for heaven. . . . Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour.”11