James 1:27 (ESV)
²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James tells us what pure religion is. Before we look at what he says specifically, it is important to see that our concern must be what our religion is, not before man, but before God. James was careful to point that out. God is the One to Whom we must give an account (Hebrews 4:13). In the end, we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and He alone will set forth the verdict that determines where we will spend eternity. Of course, we are working that verdict out right now. Paul said that, “each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” So, if we want to receive a favorable verdict, our religion must be pure and undefiled.

James tells us that we must have love that is demonstrated by action. You say, “I did not read that in James 1:27.” Yes, you did, just not specifically. Instead, James gives us an example of what active love looks like. It visits orphans and widows in their affliction. The world visit means, “to look upon, care for, exercise oversight” (Vine). There is no doubt that caring for orphans and widows is something that we should do when the situation presents itself. The local church can do this if the ones in need are members of the body of Christ (1 Timothy 5:9-10). However, that is not what James is speaking of in the context of James one. James is referring to our personal, individual responsibility. Helping orphans and widows is just an example of having a charitable spirit. Pure religion involves loving others in an active way.

1 John 3:17-18 (ESV)
¹⁷ But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? ¹⁸ Little children let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Pure religion is an active religion. It is not limited to sitting on a comfortable pew a few times a week. It involves doing good and helping the less fortunate, not simply because we are commanded to do so, but because the love of God abides in our hearts.

A pure religion also involves living a pure life. We must not allow the sins that surround us to defile us before God. As James says, we must be sure to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. This is not something we do by accident. The world can be very tempting. If we let our guard down for a moment, we can get caught in the web of some type of immoral action. It might be something as simple as lying. It might consist of being drawn into an adulterous relationship. The list of alluring sins that the world has to offer is long. The devil wants us to try sin just once. He knows that it can lead to a second or third time, and before we know it, we are caught up in a habitual practice of sinning that stains us in the eyes of an accepting world. Make up your mind that you will fight against the attempts of Satan to defile you. You cannot be pure in religion while having unrepented sin in your life. Make sure that when the world looks at you, they see someone who is doing their best to live godly. As Peter said, we must keep our conduct before the world honorable. Paul put it like this:

Philippians 2:15 (ESV)
¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Let your life be a shining light by making sure your religion is pure.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.