Empty Religion

Hophni and Phinehas.  Not the names of lead characters in a new comedy series.  Could be the title of an epic tragedy.  Perhaps a realistic picture of today's church culture in America.  Church leaders of their time.  Made a living off the backs of the faithful.  Yet ... they suffered from heart conditions.

In their zeal to perhaps live up to their standard of serving the community, they failed to see God.  They saw the things of God.  They walked among the edicts and ordinances of God.  Yet, they failed to experience the power of the living God while serving a dead religion.  They had a heart problem.

Whoa to us ... to us who wear crosses to preach a silent message for whom we love ... with our lips yet fail to inform our hearts.  Whoa to us ... to us who serve by doing tasks that display a clean-cut resume for the "kingdom of God" yet fail to engage in the Spirit of the Universe, God Almighty.  Whoa to us ... whoa to our hearts ... that no longer engage in the electricity of a mighty God but elevate our strengths in order to somehow conceal God's weaknesses.  God doesn't need our resume, our deeds, our crosses, or our Sunday morning sacrifices.  He needs our hearts.

Hophni and Phinehas.  Died.  A high price to pay for practicing a brand of religious ritual without any dose of heart.  Look around, church.  Look around at the rituals and religious and right things ... without any does of heart.  Why doesn't our culture reflect godliness, holiness, the grandeur of a loving God?  Why do church buildings become shrines for Sunday's and lives are lived undefined by sacrifice and obedience to the One that gave so much?  The same cancer that infected Hophni and Phinehas eats away.  We'd rather be comfortable and religious than scandalous and obedient.  Where are those who would stand ... for something ... of God.  Where are those who would cross lines, defy expectations, abandon protocol and stand ... for something ... of God?