If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:26-27

Being true to the Rule of life. 

The word Religion simply put is a rule of Life – Principles we live by.  Defined by the Dictionary it is “a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices agreed upon by a number of persons.” James says for Christians irrespective of what else we do and say, caring for the less fortunate and ensuring that the world does not influence our behaviour is important.  We must be in the world and not of the world.  We live in the world in such a way that we do not get caught up in the ills surrounding us.  Rudyard Kipling puts it nicely in the poem If  

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you,… If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”

If you can be true to your Christian rule of life you are a disciple of Christ.

Remembering that James speaks to a scattered group of Christians suffering from persecution, what they say is important. They cannot say anything that will cause harm to others. They should not lie to protect themselves or family.  These early Christians are finding it difficult to practice what they believe as they are treated with skepticism in the culture they now find themselves.  They were afraid as Paul and others put them in jail for practicing their belief. As humans we do what is easiest, what is most convenient. They did whatever was necessary to survive. James says they must stay true to their beliefs and not do what is expedient. This is so with us too.

We want to belong, to fit in with the rest of society, we don’t like standing out so we join in with what others are doing, without realizing that we are hurting ourselves and our belief system. Very soon our lines become blurred and we lose our sense of identity. 

In the Jewish society of James there was no provision for the widow or orphan. There was no safety net, no social security programmes, no food stamps, no ‘Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education’ (PATH). These persons were at the mercy of  unless someone cared for them.  James says as Christians walking with Jesus and in his footsteps, we are compassionate, we look out for the less fortunate by providing for them. It is not just humans, we also seek to protect sustain and renew all of creation. We challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation where and when we are able.  

We seek to live your authentic lives no matter what is happening, no matter who is with us or where you are. Our principles remain the same and we strive to show care and compassion at all times. We do so as the strength of God pilots us. The power of God preserves us. the wisdom of God instructs us. the hand of God protects us. the way of God directs us. the shield of God defend us. May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. Where God is all is well. All will be well. All manner of things will be well.