Pure Religion In A Cardboard Box

The trip to England, back in November, revived a topic that has been swirling around in my head for a couple of years. This disturbing thought arose as I learned of the daily activities of the evangelist there at the Summer Lane Church. In listening to Trevor share, I was reminded of what I often hear missionaries talk about when they come home from the field. Trevor's activities and these missionaries' work never seem to match up with what I see here in the States. They seem to do it differently over there. Their priorities are not in sync with the way we do "church" over here. I find that troubling, as evidently, we are all reading the same book.

In the Epistle of James, the author writes in the first chapter, verse twenty-seven, that "Religion that our God and 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."

Religion that is pure. Religion that is faultless. The word "religion" is no longer socially acceptable today. Even religious people refuse to use it as they ALL claim they are enlightened and they have learned to be SPIRITUAL, instead of that nasty, politically incorrect term, RELIGIOUS!

But the Bible speaks of religion. Specifically, James speaks of pure religion. And the obvious question that comes to mind is, Why are all these spiritual people so opposed to practicing pure religion?

Trevor ministers daily to elderly widows. There are a number of widows in that small congregation and they live in public housing that houses many more. He sings with them, prays with them, plays bingo with them, and offers transportation for them all over the city of Birmingham. He refers to them as "old biddies" and they just laugh at him because they love him. He exemplifies unconditional love. a true servant heart, and a purpose driven life.

I hesitate to use the word "orphanage." Even among my tens of readers, there will no doubt be a couple of you to take umbrage with that word. But it's the only word I know. The Old Man tells stories of going into those Orphanages in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe that I simply will not relate in this post. Most of you are simply not equipped to hear of some of things he has witnessed.

But, seldom do I hear a missionary returning from the field, that he does not speak of their daily work in the orphanages. Their stories break my heart as they look after those children in their distress.

Over here, however, we are spiritual! In our church foyers, we have huge tables and hundred dollar banners hanging, advertising our Retreats at a 5 Star Conference Center. We can't wait to get away and learn how to be spiritual! Kicked to the side of that table, almost in a corner, is a box for which the church bulletin has reminded us to donate a can of corn or a tube of toothpaste because the truck from the "Childrens' Home" will swing by on Tuesday to pick it up.

Spirituality is at the Conference Center! Pure Religion is in a cardboard box.

I am writing this for myself! I have NEVER been on the property of a "Children's Home" in my entire life! I did swing by the Funeral Home a few weeks ago to offer condolences to a widow. Yay me! Big pat on the back for that unselfish act of service!

I'm not making any promises or resolutions. I'm way too self-centered to follow through on them. But, I'm thinking about being more religious in 2016. And I'm thinking of it in terms of Pure Religion.