According to Stong’s the word means: 1. religious worship
a) esp. external, that which consists of ceremonies.

The exact same word is found in Acts 26:5b where Paul says of himself: “that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.”

And in verse 26 of the same chapter of the book of James, James talks about a worthless religion, then going on to talk about a very precious and holy and God-pleasing religion.

I think this kind of talk about “religion versus Jesus” is just confusing and should be avoided. It is modern, worldly Christianity at it’s most anemic.

It seems to me that these days Christians hate the word religion. What I find strange is that the Bible speaks favourably of it. It’s like the word “tradition”, the Bible speaks of traditions of men and of God. Likewise their is godly religion and hypocritical religion.

This idea seems to be heavily linked with the idea that “Church don’t matter”. I’m sorry, but we’re saved together, as a body, and Church does matter. And in that Church Jesus asks us to practice the religion he gave us. Theology is important and bad theology leads to heresy, which has the potential to damn a soul. That’s why it’s so important to try and get these things right. I believe this Churchless Christianity that has become prevalent is dangerous, and seems to have its roots in 16th century pietism.

The issue is nuanced, and to many the difference seems to be unimportant, and many see that these types of discussion about words lead many times to arguments and name calling etc. That does in fact appear to be exactly what happened many times during the various Church councils down through the centuries. Yet they were important nonetheless. They carved out definitions that kept the Church within acceptable boundaries. The most important and famous one was the first Ecumenical Council which refuted Arius and his heretical theology that denied the dvinity of Christ. I think most Protestants would agree with the first 4 Ecumenical Councils at least. Again, bad theology leads to heresy which can lead to hell. That’s why arguments and discussions about words are important, but everything must be done in humility and love.

James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unspotted from the world”

Any Christian who practices these two things is practicing a religion that is like a pleasing aroma in the nostrils of God.

What I feel Christians (true disciples of Christ) are talking about when they refer to religion is religious hypocrisy. The pharisees in the time of Christ are a prime example. There are many Church leaders today who fit the bill. Church attendance, Bible reading and simply abstaining from evil is no good. Christ requires real fruit. Works that reach out and touch the poor of this world in a tangible way. Works that cause us to reach deep into our own pockets and souls and give without reserve. To empty ourselves that others may be enriched. It is the Christ-life working in us. This is the opposite spirit of the world, which is the spirit of self-seeking.

James does speak of hypocrites in the Church. He calls them double minded.
James 1:7-8 & 4:8
“For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Revelation 21:8 tells us of their future: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

In our own circles, no matter where we attend Church whether it is one of the historic and Apostolic Churches or in a Protestant/Evangelical type set up there are many hypocrites claiming to be Christ’s disciples. Jesus calls those people lukewarm, and that if they don’t repent He will spit them out of His mouth. They literally make Him want to get sick.

But what I’ve also noticed is that many of my Evangelical brethren who are very vocal about the evils of hypocrisy (or religion as they call it), do not do much in the way of James’ first definition of pure and undefiled religion: namely taking care of orphans and widows. God speaks many times (especially in the OT) of His desire that His people be those who do justly and act righteously. They are very vocal about the need to keep from polluting ourselves with the evil of this world (and rightly so). But Christianity does not exist in a vacuum. When we remove the evil from our lives we must fill it with righteousness. And what is the righteousness that God wants to fill our lives with? It’s not simply refraining from wickedness, the Pharisees were experts at that sort of thing.

Psalm 82:1-4
“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid [them] out of the hand of the wicked.”