James 1:26-27

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.
James 1:26-27

Now James is talking about someone who "thinks he is religious" but also one who "does not bridle his tongue".  So, this person if someone believes him or herself to be religious but also speaks before thinking.  Looking back to verse 19, this is probably someone who is quick to speak and slow to listen.  To be religious I imagine someone very pious and outward about their beliefs.  Perhaps they are very devoted to their religion and follow it very strictly.  However, this picture doesn't seem to go together.  Perhaps this is just my mind, but if I imagine someone who is religious, that person is someone who does in fact bridle his or her tongue.

So, with regards to this weird picture that I see, James says that this person's religion is worthless.  I guess this means that the inability to bridle ones own tongue completely voids or nullifies any meaning of religious behavior.  In fact, this person is said to be one who "deceives his heart".  To think you are religious but not bridle your tongue not only means that your religion is worthless, but that you are actually deceiving your heart.  Looking back to verse 22, this is perhaps the same as someone who is only a hearer of the word and not a doer.  Or I guess another way to put it is that an example of one who is only a hearer of the word who deceives himself (not a doer) is one who thinks he is religious but doesn't bridle his tongue.

James goes on to explain what pure and undefiled religion is.  It is "to visit orphans and widows in their affliction" and it is "to keep oneself unstained from the world".  The orphans and widows were (and still are) some of the most needy of society.  Without parents, it is tough to carry on in so many ways.  In addition, to be widowed from a spouse is hard as well.  To visit them in their affliction is to help them in their time of need.  So, to bring it back to the example in verse 22, to be a doer of the word and not deceive yourself is to care for those in need (like widows and orphans).

What does it mean to "keep oneself unstained from the world"?  Well, the world is full of sinful people (that includes you and me).  However, we followers of Jesus are in the world but not of the world.  We have been washed clean and have been redeemed.  It is possible to be drawn into the sin of the world.  In fact, it's hard not to.  Yet, James writes to his readers to tell them that pure undefiled religion is to keep oneself unstained from the world.  Do not be drawn in and affected by it's sin.  Yes, we are in this world and we live here and care for the world.  Part of pure and undefiled religion is visiting orphans and widows in their affliction.  Yet, keep unstained from the world.