https://odb.org/MY/2023/06/20/true-religion-2
I have mentioned before in these pages that as believers, we can not interact with our LORD God in isolation, although faith is something personal. Our faith, although personal, is also communal. It is personal in the sense that it’s a relationship with Jesus Christ, and we are personally accountable for our actions and beliefs. Yet, it can not be professed and practised in isolation. We need to serve and worship God in His Kingdom, whether in a local church or as part of a mission. We need to encourage and edify others in our church and likewise be encouraged and edified, acting as a counterbalance for others and having others as our counterbalance. When our faith is not practised in relation to our brethren, then there is a high possibility of us being lopsided – either too radical or too liberal when moderation is always the wisest path to take.
On top of being personal and yet communal, the other aspect of our faith is that it has to be real. Thus, James 1:22 says that we are not to only listen to the Word and deceive ourselves, but do what it says. James continues in verse 27 that the religion 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. Coincidently, as bible knowledge, James here is believed to be the half-brother of Jesus, who was one of the leaders of the church in Jerusalem, the same James that Paul met after Peter when Paul first came to connect with the body of Christ in Jerusalem 3 years after his conversion on the road to Damascus (see Galatians 1:19).
Our faith must be real, whether with fellow believers or those outside of our faith. For example, we may fret about the politics in Malaysia and how greedy politicians play up race and religion to gain votes and power, but when we are faced with our brothers from the other side, we must love them and be kind to them. In fact, we must stand with those who are distressed and who are unfairly treated regardless of their faith, race, or creed and can we say, regardless of their political inclinations. Everyone has their own agenda, but when faced with injustice, we must still love and be compassionate. Always face hatred with love and not more hate. Life may or may not be fair to us, but we must be kind to others. Always ask – will Christ be glorified? Will our Father God be proud of us? Don’t ask net net; is this better for me? Never a pros and cons analysis, but the question is always whether we are real and true to God?
Ronnie's Thoughts 