James 1:26-27 — “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.” Many followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are uncomfortable with being called “religious.” Evangelical Christians tend to associate “religion” with works righteousness. It consists of performing certain rituals in order to merit salvation and is therefore at odds with the Gospel of grace. But is this true? Is Biblical Christianity one thing and religion something entirely different? Are Christians supposed to be religious people?
