Wikipedia states that religion "is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and moral values" - a definition that is widely accepted and adopted by the general public and probably by me if I really examine how I think about religion.
Somehow I don't like to think of myself as 'religious'... and why? Is that because I associate religion with strict dogma, people mindlessly following stringent doctrines and empty worship rituals? and if it is, then shame on me. For that is not how God defines religion.
God, through James, tells us that 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 1:27.
Notice something? Dogma, doctrine or worship rituals are NOT the definition of religion - God tells us that religion is dynamic, it's active, it lives inside of us - our religion is who we are, our thoughts, words and actions. Everybody, even unbelievers have a religion (their religion may be the furthering of ones-self)…. For God reminds us through James that religion is not confined to Sundays, limited to complex theological beliefs and discussions or a compartmentalised section in our lives devoted to spiritual matters… rather religion is a practical matter, it is what is in our hearts, in our minds, on our lips and in our actions…
but the definition of religion is not why I started this blog post... no what I wanted to bring out was James first qualification for pure and undefiled religion: "to visit orphans and widows in their affliction".
Why does God put the emphasis on orphans and widows?
The verse that originally caught my attention was in Exodus 22:22-24: “You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless”.
It’s striking isn’t it? God’s emphasis on protecting the widow and orphan is unmistakable. They are His. He is their protector.
And this theme is repeated again and again in the Bible:
“He [that is God] executes justice for the fatherless and the widow…” Deut 10:18
“… the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled…” - Deut 14:29
In Deuteronomy 24:19 He said “When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back and get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan and for the widow…”
“Cursed be anyone who perverts justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless and the widow”- Deut 27:19
“Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation…” Psalm 68:5
“Learn to seek justice, correct oppression, bring justice to the fatherless and plead the widow’s cause” – Isaiah 1:17
“But You do see, for You note mischief and vexation, that You may take it into Your hand; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless …” Psalm 10:14
“The LORD… upholds the widow and the fatherless…” Psalm 146:9
It is really remarkable that God so particularly protected the orphans and widows in Israel. The nations around about the Israelites scorned the weak and ignored the inferior. Those who didn’t have power, wealth or position were expected to serve those who did. The vulnerable were scorned and ignored.
Yet in Israel, things were different. God reached out and said “No, do not touch, for they are mine”.
In this, God shows us that He loves the vulnerable, the weak and the inferior. Unlike us who value strength, independence and might, God shows love to those who have nothing in themselves to offer.
James reminds us that “Listen my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom…?” –James 2:5
Paul says “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to shame the things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of the Lord…” – I Corinthians 1:27-29.
What does this show us about our God? It shows His mercy, His love, His grace… and leaves us with nothing more to say but “Hallelujah!”
But there is more for us to learn… for God tells us why we are to look after the orphans and widows…
He says “You shall remember that you were slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you do this thing…” – Deuteronomy 24:17
The Israelites had been there, done that – they’d been vulnerable, week and inferior… yet God had lifted them out of that situation, redeemed them and given them a glorious future.
And this if for us too. Without God, we are orphans – with no Father who looks out for us, cares for us and governs world events for our good. Without God we are widows – alone, vulnerable and needing the Bridegroom to come and redeem and protect us. Without God we'd have no future, no hope…
And yet God has chosen us… we now have a Father, we have a Bridegroom… we have a future and a hope (see Jer 29:11).
So in summary of my musings, the first qualification for true religion goes much deeper then the following of religious rituals, spouting theological doctrines and attending church on Sundays.
No, those with true religion understand. They understand who they were, who God is and what they have now become. They understand that in themselves they have nothing to offer, nothing at all that God would desire in them… and daily they experience God’s grace in their lives and seek to live out of that grace. They are not swayed by wealth, power, position or things that man values, but have time for the poor, the lowly and the vulnerable in society. God’s love lives in their hearts.
May the Holy Spirit fill our hearts and help us strive after this true religion.
Xx
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