small word, BIG IMPACT...

"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

Here is this verse in interlinear so that you can see the original text and it's translation:

**Source: BibleHub

Notice that the word "and" in the Greek is "kaî". "Religion that is pure AND undefiled before God AND the Father is this: to visit orphans AND widows in their tribulation, [there is no "and" here] to keep oneself unstained from the world" is the literal translation. The syntax (word order) is adjusted for English, inverting the object pronoun and verb (ex. "this is" is changed to "is this").

Growing up, I've heard people use this scripture to commend people who have adopted or assisted in nursing homes, or visited the poor, etc. But, many are quick to point out the "other side" of the verse (keeping yourself pure) as if it is differentiated from service to the poor. I agree with the pursuit of holiness - "be holy for I am holy." Conforming to the image of Christ is the inevitable destiny of a true believer, for we were "predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ." My issue is not with the pursuit of purity, but the road we take to get there. There is no other road than Christ.

"For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to the Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, [they seek] Christ the power of God and wisdom of God." 1 Cor. 1:22-24

We see that Christ, "though he was rich, became poor" taking on the "form of a servant." Jesus, by example and in word, commissioned us to serve and love the least. A friend of mine, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, has this to say on this verse. I believe it is very insightful and adds a much larger context of James 2 (the following chapter).

**Source: Michael Lund, Vertical Life Missions

I love his view on how our expression and participation in godly agapao love is manifest in our serving the least. This keeps us unstained from the world, by helping us to daily crucify our flesh with its desires of self, and to be led by the spirit. It is this reason that John says in 1 John 3, "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" The goodness of our salvation produces in our lives a commitment to serve, letting our "light shine among men so they may see our good deeds."

We do NOT serve or do to earn our salvation, it is a "free gift of God so that none shall boast." However, if we have truly receive such a gift, our gratitude will manifest itself in joyful obedience. It is not with begrudging service that we labor, but with joyful participation in the suffering of Christ. We labor with gladness because we count everything else as loss, in order to lay hold of "the surpassing joy of knowing Christ." "Examine yourselves to see that you are in the faith."