Cultural religion may yet be the death of America. We continue to have polls that give positive reports about the state of religion in America but the day to day life of society doesn’t vindicate it. You and I know that drug use is up, divorce is up, crimes of violence are up; the actions don’t match the survey. A cultural religion is like that, a majority nod the head in assent but don’t act on the facts. So, in a society where there is a white majority, the cultural religions look a lot like a white social system.
Listen to the next political speaker you hear close his speech: “God bless you” or “God bless America”. It sounds like a pep rally! Does it mean we want God to bless us (Americans) and not bless “them” (all foreigners)? Cultural religion always believes that “we” are God’s “chosen” and God will take special care of “us”.
Thinking agnostics see through cultural religion as being empty of personal meaning and stay away from churches. In Isaiah 29:13 the Lord God 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 made up only of rules taught by men.”
It is easy to talk religious talk. Read the paper; most weddings and funerals are still conducted by ministers of religion. Many of these people don’t come near the church otherwise. Their comments about the Service often sound like they have attended a Broadway show. Cultural religion looks to be entertained, not challenged about an ungodly lifestyle.
Heart religion! Heart religion! That’s what God wants. Actions have always spoken louder than words. David prayed “Create in me a clean heart.” (Psalm 51:10) If the heart is right with God, the speech will validate that fact. The lifestyle will show loyalty to God and not a following after cultural gods.
“O God, that our lips and our lives would match daily. Save us from
talking more about religion than we are currently living. Help! Amen”
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