There has been much action in the blogosphere over the spoken word video that claims "Jesus hates religion." I don't really want to get into a criticism of it, as I generally like it and find it impassioned, gospel-centered, and thought-provoking.
This discussion though did call to my mind a passage that rebukes self-righteous, skin-deep, rituals-but-no-heart religion. And from the way God talks about it, you can certainly claim that he hates it.
“What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?
says the LORD;
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
and the fat of well-fed beasts;
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
or of lambs, or of goats.
“When you come to appear before me,
who has required of you
this trampling of my courts?
Bring no more vain offerings;
incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations—
I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.
Your new moons and your appointed feasts
my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread out your hands,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
I will not listen;
your hands are full of blood.
Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause."
(Isaiah 1:11-17 ESV)
God's contempt for skin-deep religion jumps off the page. He is so "weary" and "burdened" by these religious rituals, gatherings, prayers, and activities that he will "hide his eyes" and "will not listen." "Enough!" God says, "My soul hates this!" God hates religion that is mere lip-service, religion that is all external going through the motions. I find it convicting that God doesn't seem to rebuke their theology, but rather, that their theology has not penetrated their hearts.
Let's not leave these words and judgments from God as something only aimed for Israel, something that he would never say to the modern church. Therefore, it's fitting to ask, what would God's reaction be toward our church activities? Would he say "Why do you even gather? I've had enough of this!"? Would he say, "Stop praying, stop singing, stop taking communion, just stop!!"? Or would he say, as he said to the church in Philadelphia, "I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." (Rev. 3:8). The last thing I want to be is a gathering that God's soul hates.
Well said.
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