James 1:27 is a powerful verse that we sometimes overlook because we are so familiar with it. In this verse, pure religion is defined using two distinctive and seemingly unconnected concepts: serving the less fortunate, and staying pure from the world. Initial reaction is that these are two separate issues. But it strikes me that there is more connection to the two than we realize.
Perhaps our soul is “polluted” if we aren’t serving the less fortunate. Perhaps we can’t serve the less fortunate without our soul being touched. One is our outward appearance with a tangible impact, one is …