:In the heart of Scripture lies a call that is as urgent today as it was in the first century. James 1:27 reads:
“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.” This verse is the cornerstone of 1:27, a profound and timely Bible study developed by Dr. Andrea Siegel for HCW (Helping Children Worldwide, and available in both English and Spanish). More than just an exploration of James chapter 1, 1:27 is an invitation into the very heart of what God calls "pure and faultless" worship—caring for the most vulnerable among us. Dr. Siegel brings a unique and deeply enriching perspective to this study. As a Jewish scholar, she opens a rare window into how the original audience of James—a community of Jewish believers—would have received and understood his words. Her lens offers not only theological depth, but historical and cultural resonance that many modern readers might miss. As Siegel shows us, when James references care for widows and orphans, he isn’t introducing a new idea. He is calling his community back to the core of their shared faith tradition—a tradition steeped in the Torah’s repeated commands to protect the vulnerable. In Exodus, Deuteronomy, and the Psalms, God makes His concern for the widow and the orphan unmistakably clear. James, steeped in this same heritage, echoes that divine heartbeat in a Christian context. What Dr. Siegel so powerfully illuminates is that James 1:27 is not merely about charity—it’s about identity. For the Jewish believers James was addressing, this call to care for the most vulnerable among their community wasn’t optional. It was foundational to what it meant to love and honor God. Their faith - and ours, formed in the crucible of covenant and community, was always meant to be lived out in acts of justice, mercy, and love. Through 1:27, participants are invited not only to study the text but to be transformed by it. Dr. Siegel’s teaching challenges us to re-examine what we often reduce to rituals or routines and to re-center our lives around what truly matters to God: defending the defenseless, walking with the wounded, and remaining unstained by the selfishness of the world. Epworth United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, was deeply enriched by engaging The Widow and the Orphan: One Twenty-Seven as part of its bilingual Advent sermon series and Bible study in 2024. The availability of a Spanish translation from the outset allowed the entire English/Spanish-speaking congregation to participate fully. Reverend Jennifer Fenner shared that Dr. Siegel’s contributions as a Jewish scholar provided vital insight into the text, especially her assertion that “not just chapter one – but Chapter One and Verse Twenty-Seven is a summary statement for the whole book of James, and arguably the application of Christian faith.” The Jewish persepective Dr. Siegel provides offered a deeper cultural and theological context that illuminated the book’s structure, midrashic style, and call to communal responsibility. This perspective helped the congregation understand James not as a scattered letter, but as a cohesive, action-oriented message grounded in covenantal values. This Bible study doesn’t just teach. It sends. It invites churches, small groups, and individuals to embody James 1:27 in practical, meaningful ways—particularly in HCW’s mission to serve vulnerable children and families around the world. Dr. Siegel’s unique voice reminds us that when we care for the widow and orphan, we’re not just doing good. We are worshipping our Lord. We are aligning our lives with the very heart of God. If you’re ready to explore a deeper, richer understanding of worship, justice, and faithful living, 1:27 is a study that will challenge and inspire you. You can hear more about 1:27: The Widow and the Orphan on the podcast: Think Global, Do Justice, where Dr. Andrea is featured as a guest.
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