Silence is Not an Option
Reverend J. Loren Russell
SCRIPT: James 1:21-27 NKJV
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
What are your responsibilities when you know the truth? James, the practical Apostle, says we are responsible for putting into practice what we have heard and what we have learned. It is not enough simply to refrain from engaging in defiling activities, we must eradicate them so that the implanted word of God can do its work of saving souls.
James holds each of us personally accountable for the crucifixion of every vile thought, every malicious action, and
every hateful word that comes out of our mouths. Whatever we practice, any and everything that is corrupt and sinful must be removed.
James compares a person who hears God’s word of instruction and does not follow it, to someone looking in a mirror, seeing their reflection, then moving away and forgetting the type of person they are. The person who thinks they understand God’s perfection but does not control their tongue deceives themselves and their faith is useless. But the person who recognizes their shamefulness has been honed by the perfect law of liberty. What they do will be blessed and evidenced by the words they speak.
James closes this pericope by stating that “pure and undefiled religion (faith) before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
Make no mistake, those who have been honed by the perfect law of liberty must realize that it is our responsibility to see to the needs of others just as James defines it. Silence is not an option.
Be Blessed!
Rev. J. Loren Russell is the Clergy Officiant at the Evangelical Church of God and associate minister at Goodwill Baptist Church, both in the Bronx. He is the President/CEO of The JLR Company/J Loren R Consulting, LLC for Church Financial & Strategic Consulting (718-328-8096) and is the producer and host of “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Monday nights from 8:00 – 10:00 PM on The Matters of Faith YouTube channel. Be sure to ‘Friend, Like, and Share.” Email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The eBook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/993177.
