We read in Scripture of the form and the power of godliness. When we look around us in the church, we see more of the form than we do of the power. There seems to be so many people who are merely playing religion. They attend services and go through the form of worship. They are sometimes very strongly devoted to their creed and greatly attached to the organization of which they are members; but when you look for the power of godliness in their lives--you do not find it. This make-believe religion may ease the conscience for a time. People may manage to get along with such a religion in this world, but it will not stand the test of eternity.
Of course, it will not stand the real test for this life. The soul which has the form without the power of religion, can never have that satisfaction and peace which true religion gives.
Religion that can be put on with the Sunday clothes and taken off as easily, never goes very deep into the heart or life. While they profess to worship God, their hearts are far from Him. The service of such people is always weak, because there is no heart in it. Yet such people are not usually weak, when it comes to serving self and the world.
God hates the mere form of religion. It is an insult to him. He knows whether we are sincere or not whether our service is just form or not. Modern ritualism is a curse to the church.
[Charles Naylor]
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Ezekiel 33:31 ... And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Matthew 15:8-9 ... This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
2 Timothy 3:5 ... Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.❤
