Unmasking Counterfeit Christianty

July 17, 2016                                  NOTES NOT EDITED

Unmasking Counterfeit Christianity

James 1:18-27

SIS: True Christians love God and are devoted to loving others in tangible, measurable ways.

Our text this morning issues a challenge to each of us to ferret out anything in our “religious experience” that is not true and genuine.  Verse 16 offers us a solemn warning that will give us a context for our study this morning:

¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dearly loved brothers.

Obviously this warning indicates it is possible for Christians
to be deceived by a “counterfeit” version of Christianity.  The original language is very strong indicating counterfeit Christianity is very dangerous. 

The crime of counterfeiting money

is a huge problem in America, and a very serious one since it erodes the very foundation of our economy.  It has been for some time.  Counterfeiting–the passing of fake money as real–hurts our economy.  The FBI are constantly on the look out for counterfeit rings that seem to pop up perennially like spring wild-flowers.

    The FBI does not train their agents to spot phony money by having them study counterfeit bills.  They teach them to spot phony money by having them handle and inspect hundreds, perhaps thousands of real bills.  When you are intimately familiar with the original, a counterfeit is easy to spot.

Our text this morning deals with spotting religion that

phony, false, or that has impure motives.  Read along with me:

(James 1:18-27)  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. {19} My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, {20} for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. {21} Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. {22} Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. {23} Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. {25} But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does. {26} If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his 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 instructs us concerning two types of religion:

Worthless and Pure.

It is sobering to think that our “religion,” or anyone’s religion could be worthless as far as God is concerned.  But, this is exactly what the Bible plainly–and even bluntly–teaches.  Not all the religions of the world are pleasing to God, no matter how sincere or “good” the people are that practice it.  This is a sobering thought which should lead us to some pretty intense self-evaluation.

Notice the words, “seem to be religious.”

All false religions have something in common: self-deception, in spite of the facts regarding their religion.  In spite of the philosophical

historical, or theological inconsistencies of their religion, they remain steadfast in their beliefs.  They are “self-deceived.”

The word “worthless” could not be more direct

in addressing matters of false religion.  It refers to the “deceitfulness, or misleading nature of false religion.”  Since such doctrines are misleading, they are “useless” in gaining men or women favor with God.  In fact, false religion is the worst form of deceit because it causes people to miss eternal life.  The word translated “worthless” carries both the ideas of “deceit and uselessness.”

Do you know what happens if you “innocently” pass a

counterfeit bill that comes into your possession?  Even though you had nothing to do with making this bill, you still have to make up the difference.  You cannot simply plead “ignorance.”

The same is true of false, counterfeit, religion.

You will not be able to plead innocent by ignorance at the judgment.  As far as eternal life is concerned, there is no difference whether you miss it by a mile or by and inch–you are still lost for eternity.  That is why getting religion right is so very important.  The stakes are colossal!

Now, what is pure and undefiled (faultless) religion.

The Greek language is a wonderful tool for communicating the ideas of God.  Scholars suppose this is why God allowed this language to be used to communicate His truth.  Greek is very specific and expressive.  The word for pure conjures up a very graphic picture of cleansing.   The word “pure” means “purged of all impurities.”  From this original Greek word we derive the English word, “cathartic.”  Now, I can see some of you starting to get the picture!

Do you remember “castor oil?” Castor oil is a “cathartic.”  Now, at the risk of sounding a little crude, I will explain what a “cathartic” is, should there be anyone that is unclear.  Exlax, for example, like castor oil, is a “cathartic.”  A cathartic is a substance that “cleans out” the bowels!

Pure religion must constantly be purged of elements

that will cause injury or harm.  For example, people who are constantly stirring up trouble through gossip, back-biting, and negative talking will eventually need to be purged from the body to prevent irreparable harm.  We don’t talk about this much anymore, but it is an extremely important part of keeping our relationship to God through the church pure.  Listen to a number of scriptures that teach the necessity of removing unruly, immoral, or rebellious members of the church:

(Rom 16:17)  I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

(1 Cor 5:6-8)  Don't you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? {7} Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. {8} Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.

(2 Th 3:14-15)  If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. {15} Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

(1 Tim 6:3-5)  If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, {4} he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions {5} and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

Keeping the body of Christ healthy is a serious matter.

Most churches do not, indeed cannot, grow because of sin within the fellowship.  Hear me good on this: if it doesn’t matter who becomes a member of the church then being a member of the church does not matter.

The pastors and deacons of the church must

make it “priority one” to have a healthy congregation free from the internal squabbles and attacks of a few unruly and unprincipled people. 

The word “undefiled” is a synonym of “pure” serving

to strengthen the idea.  The word “faultless” or “undefiled” has the idea of a stubborn stain difficult to remove.

Once a church loses it’s integrity because of

undisciplined, unruly, or immoral members– it is very difficult to get back.

So, we have a choice between two religions:

Worthless or Spotless!

How do we spot, “spotless” religion?  Three characteristics distinguish true Christianity from the counterfeits.

1.  First, examine it’s ORIGIN (18)

(James 1:18)  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

A pure church is a Bible-believing church.

We can change the music.  We can change the order of service.  We can change many of the methods we use to reach out to a lost world.  But, a pure church cannot ever change the message.  A pure church believes that the Bible, AND THE BIBLE ALONE, is God’s written communication to man for all matters of faith and practice and is absolutely without any error whatsoever as to the truth it teaches. 

False churches develop from one of four points of origin: Marketing, aMusement, Men, or Miracles. Marketing-driven churches ask the question, “what are people’s felt needs,” and then they set out to give people what they want. aMusement-driven churches ask the question, “what do people enjoy,” and set out to entertain them. Men-driven churches follow some “celebrity preacher” who through cleverness of speech or innovative methods becomes a “cult figure.” Finally, Miracle-driven churches are always looking for an “emotional” high or some “out of this world” experience.
Now, there is nothing wrong with using principles of marketing to set the trajectory of the gospel message to hit the most responsive part of the most open audience. There is nothing wrong with a degree of amusement, or entertainment, being part of the context in which a church delivers the gospel message—as long as it does not distract from the message itself. All movements follow great leaders and every pastor should seek to be engaging and innovative in his approach to others. Finally, miracles are certainly part and parcel of the gospel presentation. God did miracles in the Bible, and God does not change. However, we must be cautious not to be “miracle-seekers.” Jesus, Himself, warns against such a foundation for Christian living, or the origin of the Church (Mt. 16:4).
The origin and foundation for the True Church is not marketing, amusement, men, or even miracles. The origin and foundation of the True Church is The Message—God’s Eternal, Inerrant Word.  James teaches us the true origin of the True Church:

18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth.

The Bible is not a science textbook . . .

but, where it’s message intersects the discipline of science it is absolutely trustworthy.  The greatest scientist throughout history have believed the Bible’s message.

The Bible is not a history textbook . . .

but, where it’s message intersects the facts of history

it is absolutely accurate and trustworthy. Great historians throughout history have believed the Bible.

The Bible is not a textbook on social sciences . . .

but, where it’s message intersects social science,

it is absolutely accurate and trustworthy.  Great social reformers like William Booth and the Salvation Army have believed the Bible.

Again and again skeptics have beat on the anvil of God’s Word with the hammer of intellectualism only to wear out one hammer after another.

We have no knowledge of God except that which He reveals, and all revelations–whether visions or dreams or whatever–must conform to God’s written Word.

History has taught us that once any Christian group

unhooks itself from the anchor of God’s Word, that group drifts into the open sea of liberalism and lies–eventually sinking into oblivion.

2.  Second, examine a religions OPERATIONS (22, 27)

All religions either reach UP, IN, or OUT.

Religions that reach up are unconcerned about

the needs of those around them.  They are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good.  Religions that reach only “up” will be theologically sound but anthropologically blind.  That is: they are blinded by orthodoxy.  They purport to be “God-centered” (theological), but since they are “blind to humanity” (anthropology), such religions are pretenders. 

These people will step over the homeless
to get to church.

Other religions reach IN.

They become a very exclusive club.  They are not entirely blind to other people around them.  They will let a selected few join them–if they are the right “kind” of people and they are content to simply be paying spectators as the entrenched power players run the show.

To a reaching IN religion, the emphasis is on “pastoral care” of the present flock.  “Fellowship” is an important buzz word.

Interestingly, churches focused on reaching "in" will have the same attitude toward outsiders as those reaching "up."  They, too, will walk over the homeless
on the way to church.

Now, reaching UP -- right doctrine -- to God is important.  Reaching IN -- rich fellowship -- to one another is also important, but these alone will not lead to a “pure and undefiled” religion that pleases God.

True religion must also and always reach OUT.

That’s the key to understanding the Bible’s consistent

and constant reference to “widows and orphans” from the Book of Genesis to the Book of James.

There were no social services in the days of the Bible.

Women were the property of men and when their man died, they were cast aside by society.  Children were also mere possessions.  Children were often bred for security in one’s aging years, rather than received as precious gifts from God.

Widows and Orphans epitomized the “outcasts” of society. When you examine the operation of a church, you can determine if it is a “pure and undefiled” church or a worthless church by asking: are they reaching out to those who are beyond the

walls of the church–especially those who are unlike themselves?

3.  Examine a religion’s OUTCOME (19-25)

Pure religion leads to intense self-examination and

radical life-transformation.

Self-examination is not comfortable—and sneaky.  By sneaky I mean we tend to evaluate ourselves by what we’d like to be, not what we are.  This is true of individuals.  It is true of churches.  Ask most people if their particular church is “doing good work” and you will likely get a long list of the many activities and services the church provides.  This evaluation may be quite accurate as it is, but may not be any indication at all that they are a “true” church.  A true believer, or a true church is measured by the amount of personal transformation, and the number of lives being radically transformed.  Look at how our text evaluates the acceptable “outcomes” of a true church.

(James 1:23-24)  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror {24} and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

It has never amazed me that the preaching of the Word of God oftentimes results in someone getting mad at the preacher.  This should be expected.

In fact, I’d be more amazed if this didn’t happen occasionally.

If you come to church and you are not challenged by

the Word of God to change the way you think or act,

you are a fool who is delusional.

The Bible was not written for our INFORMATION,

it was written for our TRANSFORMATION.

Look at verse 22:

 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  DO what it says.

The idea here is one of willful disobedience or fraud.

Religion that does not lead to a consistent walk and talk is called “deceit, or fraud.”  The word translated “deceive” carries the idea of willful cheating.  It is the word that describes Laban’s actions when he deliberately lied to and cheated Jacob in regard to his daughters (Gen. 29:25).  It is also the word in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) that describes Deliah’s lying to and cheating Samson.

There is an old cliche (which preachers are warned about using) that says, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”  That is, you can tell the true nature of an action by examining it’s outcome.  Another way of saying it is this: if it waddles like a duck and quacks like a duck, it probably is not a chicken.

If a person’s religion is pure, his or her talk will be consistent.

(26)  If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

OUCH!  Did that hurt! We must constantly watch how we talk.

If a person’s religion is pure, his or her talk and walk will be consistent:

(James 1:19-21)  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, {20} for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. {21} Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

The outcome of a pure church is the building of disciples whose walk and talk are consistent with the teachings of the Bible and the example of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, there you have it.

Pure religion versus Worthless religion.

I can assure you that I am absolutely committed to having a pure church.

NOW DON’T HEAR WHAT I DID NOT SAY.

I said, “pure, not perfect.”

As a Christian I expect the very best from myself every minute of every day and every day of my life.  I want to continually be pursuing excellence in my speech and actions.

I also continually expect the pursuit of excellence by everyone associated with the church – beginning with the deacons and other staff that we may from time to time have.

Let me give an alliterative summary of this passage I’ve borrowed from another great preacher.  In this text James, compelled by the Holy Spirit, offers three different perspectives on what we need to do to become “doers of the Word.”  He talks about a Gift (v17).  He describes a Grafting of the Word into our lives (v21).  He then concludes by having us look into a Glass, the mirror of self-evaluation (v23).  Each of these analogies teaches us the need to “change.”  A great and unexpected gift, like the inheritance of a large amount of money, greatly changes a person’s life.  The grafting of one type of tree onto another, greatly affects the nature of the fruit that tree produces.  Looking into the polished glass of a mirror allows us to evaluate our condition and make the necessary adjustments to our presentation before others.

The essence of pure religion is “change.”  A pure church is constantly being transformed by a devoted interaction with God through His Word.  Everything living is constantly changing.  Your body is constantly replacing old cells with new ones at the rate of millions per second. By the time you finish reading this sentence, 50 million of your cells will have died and been replaced by others (Internet).

God, through James, intends to impress us with the need to “change and grow to become more like Christ.”  It is this type of devotion and discipline that leads to the building of a “real, true, pure church.”

I’ll close with the promise God makes to any person or church that desires and disciplines himself or itself for godliness:

(James 1:25)  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.