If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.  Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

When James says "religious", he is speaking about a person who strives to be like God.  A person trying to be like Jesus.  This is a noble endeavor.  Striving for the highest calling.  But, James reminds us, something often gets in the way.

The tongue.

This is not the last time James will turn our gaze toward the words we use.

If you cannot control your tongue, you cannot be like Jesus.

James 1 speaks to us about proof.  The proof of transformed life (or a life focused on the Savior) is evident to everyone. 

Do our words deceive?  Or do our words remove distress (as in widows and orphans)?  Do our words set us apart from the world?  Do our words make a difference, thus making us different?