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I am using readings from the 49 Week Bible Challenge as the basis for these devotions. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. Today’s readings are James 1; Proverbs 2; Daniel 1; Job 15; Psalm 7.
James 1:19-27
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant 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 who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 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.
I wish it wasn’t so easy to set up a straw man of religious zeal. They have an answer for every challenge. They stand on a street corner (or outside funerals, clinics, or public events) with angry signs, shouting judgment without pointing to the hope of forgiveness in Christ. Some justify acts of terror, persecution, or vandalism against people of another religion (or even against fellow Christians of another denomination).
I know these examples are few, extreme, and notorious. But then again, there are those who compromise the faith, dishonoring Christ and his suffering, death, and resurrection. Some want simply to get along without taking a stand for truth, life, and faithfulness to the Bible.
There are also those who ridicule people of faith, and mock sincere servants of Christ. They belittle the Bible, and make light of those who have sincerely-held convictions about truth, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They dismiss religion as the opium of the people, to quote Marx.
To those who try to prove their faithfulness by extreme acts of zealotry, James says “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.” That is true religion. It touches hearts and comforts souls. It emboldens faith and strengthens weak knees.
I’m reminded of this, also, in light the previous truth James lifts up: “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Extreme and notorious displays of religious fervor simply do not accomplish the righteous things God desires for us and for the world.
Spirited and respectful debate is fine. Candor, intelligence, and good will is very often edifying. And the still small voice of God’s grace and truth centered in Jesus has the power to change lives and bring salvation to all people. That’s what true religion seeks to convey.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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