We humans are formed by habits, both good and bad. Every Christian congregation develops a form of worship that tends to become ritualized - liturgical - even in groups who consciously reject anything labeled ritual or liturgical. We can't help it. We like patterns and habits; we all tend to like the familiar. So every congregation quickly or gradually develops its own repeated form of worship.
The danger in coming to God is that we can believe He is satisfied if we "keep the rules and follow the right worship forms and practices." (What we think is right will vary of course, depending upon our background and church affiliation.)
So God's Word warns us repeatedly to beware of simply going through the motions. Beware of thinking that God is satisfied, even impressed, by the holy words we sing and say; by the form of our church attendance. God wants much more from us. God wants heart worship. So the prophet Isaiah writes these words of warning: The Lord says:
The danger in coming to God is that we can believe He is satisfied if we "keep the rules and follow the right worship forms and practices." (What we think is right will vary of course, depending upon our background and church affiliation.)
So God's Word warns us repeatedly to beware of simply going through the motions. Beware of thinking that God is satisfied, even impressed, by the holy words we sing and say; by the form of our church attendance. God wants much more from us. God wants heart worship. So the prophet Isaiah writes these words of warning: The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (19:13)
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught. (19:13)
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