When James wrote about true religion being about keeping ourselves unsullied by the world, he wasn’t (just) talking about the ethics of the bedroom. He was talking about every area of our thinking and motivation. As Paul said, we are to have the mind of Christ dwelling in us richly and to constantly renew and refresh how we think and what makes us tick. The mind of a humble servant who emptied himself of all his divine privilege in order to seek and save the lost. Not by manipulation and trickery. Not by brow-beating and bullying. Not by boasting and performing. Not by bribery and special favours. Not by calling in favours, or making deals with the devil (or his powerful cronies). But by selfless love and service - reaching out to the hurting and the helpless and giving them his attention and compassion. By lifting us out of the miry clay, not trampling us underfoot. Not because of anything we had done or not done, but because that was what God’s grace demanded.

When the Church does the opposite of these things, or cozies up to worldly powers who employ the tactics of oppression, it is serving another Master, and God calls it to repentance - to bow the knee once more to Himself and set its heart on finding out how to please Him and Him alone (2 Chron. 7:14)