Thursday, April 2, 2009

Isaiah 1:13-17 from The Message

Is this a word to the modern church?

"Quit your worship charades.
I can't stand your trivial religious games:
Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—
meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!
Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!
You've worn me out!
I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,
while you go right on sinning.
When you put on your next prayer-performance,
I'll be looking the other way.
No matter how long or loud or often you pray,
I'll not be listening.
And do you know why? Because you've been tearing
people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.
Go home and wash up.
Clean up your act.
Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings
so I don't have to look at them any longer.
Say no to wrong.
Learn to do good.
Work for justice.
Help the down-and-out.
Stand up for the homeless.
Go to bat for the defenseless.

2 comments:

Joel Brueseke said...

Beauty, eh.

Jamie said...

Ohhhh, good! And I don't EVEN have to go home and wash; He washed me whiter than snow!! I don't have to keep washing either!! NO ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS!!!! FORGIVEN!! Hoo-Wah!