They must be doers, not just hearers. The individual who looks at the law and abides by it will be blessed. But if anyone thinks he is religious, and yet he can't control his own tongue, his religion is worthless. Back to verse 26 again. He says that the religion of a man who can't control his tongue is worthless.
Every word is addressed to individuals and speaks of how they are to behave and think.
Verse 27 in no way authorizes the church to support, build, sponsor, oversee, or be in any way connected with any institution, neither orphan homes nor retirement homes. The church is not spoken of here. Likewise, it is not the church with an obligation to visit orphans and widows, but individuals. Executable Outline on James 1 Please understand that we are not ANTI- benevolence. We feel a great deal of pity for orphans and widows, as well as every person in the world who suffers.