Do you practice religion?
This question put a smile on my face when I read it because it reminded me of Paul Rudd’s final reply to Zach Galifianakis after he had asked him a series of uncomfortable questions on the comedy sketch/movie Between Two Ferns: The Movie:
ZG: “What advice would you give to a young actor who wants to hide his Jewishness as well as you have?”
PR: “I’ve never really tried to hide my Jewishness.”
ZG: “Jesus was Jewish and he didn’t hide it.”
PR: “No, he put it out there for everybody to see. He’s one of our best.”
ZG: “Are you practicing?”
PR: “No, I’m not a practicing Jew…”
Paul Rudd then says with a wry smile, “I perfected it.”
Makes me smile every time I watch that clip.
Unfortunately, perfection and religion are not always congruent terms. In fact, of the five times “religion” is used in the KJV it is only used positively one time and it is qualified with the adjective “pure.”
While we are working and practicing the command to “be perfect,” which is found eight times in the KJV, let’s also endeavor to perfect the “pure religion” James wrote about.
“If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. 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” (James 1:26-27, KJV).
“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 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 1:26-27, ESV).
“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” (James 1:26-27, NLT).
“Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world” (James 1:26-27, MSG).
The Pillar and Ground of Truth 