Perhaps this is the reason for the admonishment to avoid the world’s pollution. It is worth noting that in the verse just prior to this, James takes issue with those who would claim faith in God but don’t keep a reign on their tongue. The other part, avoiding the pollution of the world is more general, and one would need the rest of the Bible to flesh out all the ways in which this is possible. Part of this is very specific, caring for the truly needy. If one wants to be “religious in a way that the Father accepts, one must look after those who need help and cannot help themselves, and one must shun the ways of the world that pollute the soul. They may practice a form of goodness, but ignore key areas, such as pride and greed.īut here, James is using the word synonymously with belief. This is very specific instruction about how to be a follower of Jesus, or in other words, how to be “religious.” The word religion is sometimes today used in a negative way to describe a person who hypocritically goes through the motions of religion, but does not live in obedience to God. “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.” Explanation and Commentary of James 1:27
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