26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our 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.
James 1:26-27
How do you get Worship from the above text.
Well that is a good question, but when you consider the word that is translated ‘Religion’ in verse 27, ‘ threskeia’, is not so much religion as worship. Therefore, we can read the start of verse 27 “Worship that God our Father accepts…”. Now we can understand what James is saying, that is “the finest offerings and the finest service we can offer to God is service to the poor, outcasts, widows and undesirables”. To him (James) worship wasn’t about the church building, how polished the service is, if the worship band sang in key or the name and standing of the preacher. No, too James, worship lay in the practical service of loving others and caring for them.
James wasn’t on is own here he was picking up the cry from the old testament “God is a father of the fatherless, and protector of widows” (Psalms 68:5). Check out Zechariah 7:6-10, where he highlights the people have harden there hearts at the demand to execute true justice, to show mercy and compassion and not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the stranger and the poor, and not to entertain evil throughs against others. In Micah 6:6-8, we hear complaints about ritual sacrifices were useless if man did not do justice and love kindness and walk humbly before God.
We professing Christians have built great Cathedrals, Churches and Monuments and although there is nothing wrong with these. I what to put it out there, is the greater worship of God not – Street Pastors, Nurses, aid workers, food banks, Mother Treresa, community volunteers and all those caring for the widows, poor, homeless and downtrodden?
Now read Matthew 25:31-46.