Man has perverted religion to the point it is not even close to the truth of God any longer in so many areas.
First. what is religion?
Most would understand it as your way to reach your god and your set of beliefs and practices. The world is full of many false ways and religions as we prove on our unbiblical teachers blog:
http://bewareoffalse-unbiblicalteachers.blogspot.com/
But what does the bible say about what is pure religion?
In James 1:27 we read this:
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.
While we also must consider the rest of God's Word as a guide to serving Him as well in purity, lets unpack this one verse on pure religion.
We are told is it good and godly to visit and care for those in need like widows and orphans. The body of Christ should place a high importance on charity ( giving to others ) when the need is valid. Many people today beg for things when they do not have real needs ( like the many homeless street people we meet who won't work ) or they just give and send money to places where it is not wise, the money is wasted or the need is not real. Examples would be giving to unbiblical organizations with false gospels, supporting those who won't work or giving where the money never gets to the truly needy. Regardless, we do see a high importance on giving to others in God's Word. So helping the truly needed people is part of a godly pure religion.
Here we must be wise as there are MANY groups who do much good and give to needy that are NOT doing pure religion. How do we know this? Look at groups like the roman catholic church or mormons or government organizations or any other man made religious system helping others. While helping others is good and pure do they meet the rest of that scripture verse says?
and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
No they do not!
The word world in the Greek is Kosmos
In this case it really means anything in this world / earth not of the Father's truth and holiness and goodness. It is what is fallen due to sin and mans ways.
While the trees and water and mountains are of God and indeed good, the systems of man are sinful. Things like the media, corrupt government, sports, instrumental music, most all public education, fashion, entertainment, politics, excessive materialism and yes the many false religions are of the world!
In order to meet pure religion per God's Holy Word you must be willing to help the truly needy ( widows and orphans )
and
you must not be part of man made false carnal ways and his sinful world systems/religion or you have spotted yourself with the world.
We see it all the time. Religious people who do help others often, but they are worldly, carnal and into the fallen world and its fleshly ways and so they have become SPOTTED. They do not have pure religion before God. Teachers, modern pastors and those in the pews will be all about helping others but when tested you find them to be of false spiritual ways, the world and very carnal in their daily lives. Do they think God can be mocked or fooled by this? Gal 6:9
They are very deceived!!!
Many think if they are just giving and do their brand of religion God will reward them but this verse shows us you must ALSO keep yourself from sin ( spotted by the fallen world / all false ways ) to be pure in your religion before God.
Have you tested yourself to know?
Please know in order to correct this you must be willing to test the religion/faith you are keeping today to God's Word to see if you have pure religion or to see if you have been spotted by the world via your false religious ways. (Per Jesus, most all people are into false religion today and need to repent of it to be pure or be lost / see Matt 7 )
We will help you to do that at dontperish.com
See the links below to help you into pure religion before the Father!
**********************************************************
Here is the biblical gospel:
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
First. what is religion?
Most would understand it as your way to reach your god and your set of beliefs and practices. The world is full of many false ways and religions as we prove on our unbiblical teachers blog:
http://bewareoffalse-unbiblicalteachers.blogspot.com/
But what does the bible say about what is pure religion?
In James 1:27 we read this:
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.
While we also must consider the rest of God's Word as a guide to serving Him as well in purity, lets unpack this one verse on pure religion.
We are told is it good and godly to visit and care for those in need like widows and orphans. The body of Christ should place a high importance on charity ( giving to others ) when the need is valid. Many people today beg for things when they do not have real needs ( like the many homeless street people we meet who won't work ) or they just give and send money to places where it is not wise, the money is wasted or the need is not real. Examples would be giving to unbiblical organizations with false gospels, supporting those who won't work or giving where the money never gets to the truly needy. Regardless, we do see a high importance on giving to others in God's Word. So helping the truly needed people is part of a godly pure religion.
Here we must be wise as there are MANY groups who do much good and give to needy that are NOT doing pure religion. How do we know this? Look at groups like the roman catholic church or mormons or government organizations or any other man made religious system helping others. While helping others is good and pure do they meet the rest of that scripture verse says?
and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
No they do not!
The word world in the Greek is Kosmos
- an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
- ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3
- the world, the universe
- the circle of the earth, the earth
- the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family
- the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
- 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
- any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
In this case it really means anything in this world / earth not of the Father's truth and holiness and goodness. It is what is fallen due to sin and mans ways.
While the trees and water and mountains are of God and indeed good, the systems of man are sinful. Things like the media, corrupt government, sports, instrumental music, most all public education, fashion, entertainment, politics, excessive materialism and yes the many false religions are of the world!
In order to meet pure religion per God's Holy Word you must be willing to help the truly needy ( widows and orphans )
and
you must not be part of man made false carnal ways and his sinful world systems/religion or you have spotted yourself with the world.
We see it all the time. Religious people who do help others often, but they are worldly, carnal and into the fallen world and its fleshly ways and so they have become SPOTTED. They do not have pure religion before God. Teachers, modern pastors and those in the pews will be all about helping others but when tested you find them to be of false spiritual ways, the world and very carnal in their daily lives. Do they think God can be mocked or fooled by this? Gal 6:9
They are very deceived!!!
Many think if they are just giving and do their brand of religion God will reward them but this verse shows us you must ALSO keep yourself from sin ( spotted by the fallen world / all false ways ) to be pure in your religion before God.
Have you tested yourself to know?
Please know in order to correct this you must be willing to test the religion/faith you are keeping today to God's Word to see if you have pure religion or to see if you have been spotted by the world via your false religious ways. (Per Jesus, most all people are into false religion today and need to repent of it to be pure or be lost / see Matt 7 )
We will help you to do that at dontperish.com
See the links below to help you into pure religion before the Father!
**********************************************************
Here is the biblical gospel:
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
Here is a 10 point biblical test:
Go here for audio teachings:
His true people follow Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24) NOT.... man made false ways or today's denominational religion.
God be praised