Keep Oneself...

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

In 26 years of following the narrow way of faith in Christ, I have marvelled at the sublime simplicity of God's plan for His children. About the time I think I've got the system all figured out - about the time I think I've conquered all the giants (read "sins") in my life - about the time I say I can handle a little bit of the world (everything in moderation) - I come to the realization of how far I am from God's standard of holiness.

You may wonder about the above photo -- Google image search for "Roman Prison" yielded that image -- an open prison doorway with daylight beyond. Hope. A way of escape. Freedom.

Yet how many days am I found exactly where this photo was taken. In the darkness, looking out, wishing for fresh air, wanting to dance, desiring to be free.

Free from what? Sin. Corruption. Entanglement. Death.

James writes to tell us what "pure and faultless religion" is --

1. To look after orphans and widows in their distress, and
2. To keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Ok, I get the first one - we are involved in local benevolent ministries and have supported a child in Ethiopia for some 15 years. Sure, we could do more. So could you.

But, this morning was the first time (that I recall) coupling the first and the second with the ingredients of what "pure and faultless religion" is. Keeping oneself from being "polluted by the world" is not optional. It's not an either or situation.

The Greek word translated "polluted" in the NIV carries the meaning...spotless, free from censure, irreproachable, free from vice, unsullied. It is literally the Greek word for "spot" with an alpha character in front of it -- that is "ah-spot" or "no-spot". And the verb "to keep" is in the present active infinitive tense which carries with it meaning "to keep on keeping on." Finally our English word translated "world" is the Greek word "Kosmos" which in this contect refers to "world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ." (from Robertson's Word Pictures)

Of the two ingredients listed as the recipe for pure and faultless religion, the second - to keep on keeping oneself un-soiled by all things earthly - is by far the most difficult one to flesh out on a moment by moment, daily basis.

It's where I choose to focus my "religion" this day -- may it be pleasing LORD to You.