Michael M. Barrick

Christmas Reflection: What the Bible Defines as ‘Pure and Faultless Religion’

LENOIR, N.C. – In the blur that are the Christmas holidays, it is easy for us to overlook what the Bible says is “pure and faultless religion.”

“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 1:27

We who claim the name of Christ have an obligation to challenge policies that achieve the opposite. In these times, in this season, we do not have the luxury to look away from those in distress, unless of course, our minds have become polluted like a junkyard.

© Michael M. Barrick, 2025. Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Photo by Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

3 comments

  1. Thank you for writing about what real Christianity and pure and faultless religion are, countering the political abomination of those using some form of Christianism to rationalize themselves into thinking they’re upholding God’s work in the world. God’s work is love, and these political policies and acts are as unloving as you can get. Rose

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  2. Michael, Thank you for this truthful article. So sad about these people who seem to not understand core truth about The Gospel.

    I tried to log in and comment but was unable. Maybe I haven’t figured it out.  –Allen Johnson

    Here is my comment:

    Psalm 72 portrays the ideal king, or for today’s era, a statesman in governance. Emphasis is on advocacy and defense of the poor who are exploited and oppressed.

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  3. […] It should! For eight years, Cooper stood firm against the most conservative legislature North Carolina has had in decades. All the while, he managed to increase Medicaid benefits for the state’s most vulnerable citizens. If that is radical, then the GOP has a problem with their Christian Nationalist messaging. As I’ve already pointed out, the Bible teaches that “Pure and Faultless” religion requires that we care for the poor, the orp…. […]

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