Blog Title

James 1:27 (KJV)
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.

I guess a good way to begin this blog is by mentioning where the title came from. This verse from the Holy Bible is particularly meaningful to me. There was a time in my life when I was "fatherless" and there were people who "visited" me in my affliction. They didn't just come greet me; they helped me in ways that I needed as the result of not having a father there. Daddys are important. When a little girl goes without her daddy, or when a little boy goes without his daddy, the child is missing out on so much. Dads are there to protect his children, help them develop confidence and self-identity, be their example in issues of family, society, and religious upbringing, and show how moms and dads should treat each other. I'm sure there are many more things dads are good at, too, but that is a list that just came to mind.

My Grammie is a widow. There are farmers who give her various food items, some free and some at a discounted price. There are people in the church who take her to doctors' appointments and out visiting friends. There are people who give her and other widows grocery money for Christmas. Somebody mows her lawn. A couple guys she hires for carpentry work do a great job and treat her kindly. All these people are visiting my grandmother in her affliction. I wish I were there for her more.

To keep oneself unspotted from the world may be more difficult to define. But I suppose that would include ethics and morals. No lying, cheating, stealing, murdering, hating, self-centered attitudes, and such. What about jobs or how you look? Shouldn't those things matter, too? Yes, the Bible says that God looks on the heart, but it doesn't say that God only looks on the heart. He can see the outside, too. He is all-knowing, omniscient. If He knows when someone stole from the grocery store, He knows when you're wearing clothes that make you "spotted" by the world. I may not be able to define that accurately, but I think that all people who claim to be religious ought to take a look at every part of their lives, not just sections here and there. Doing one good thing doesn't make up for the bad things, just like one bad thing doesn't take away from the good things.

These are the kinds of qualities I look for in people to decide whether or not I want to be good friends with them. I want to be this kind of person, so I need to be with this kind of person. Do I expect perfection? Of course not! I understand that we are but dust and God is so much more than I could comprehend. I also know that is not an excuse for not trying at all or just putting in a half-hearted attempt.

Who do I expect to have and show this pure and undefiled religion? Anyone who claims to be a Christian, especially those who claim to be leaders of Christians in some way. The blind lead the blind and they all fall in the ditch. The same goes for character qualities. Thieves lead thieves and they all steal. Liars lead liars and none of them tell the truth. Do not follow those who will lead you astray. That is foolishness! Who would climb Mount Everest with someone who didn't know the paths? Then why do we follow men and women who don't follow or know the Word of God? God doesn't just put you in Heaven because you followed someone to Hell.

We all need to be more careful about how we live our lives everyday.