An Emotional Faith

It is possible to be a religious person and yet not know God. Jesus warned that on the final day many religious people would boast about their pious devotion to rites and rituals but he will say to them "I never knew you" (Matt. 7:22-23). We often quote this passage to condemn the mundane, man-made traditions of denominational worship. Sometimes this passage is quoted with a sound of arrogance, "we know God" but you don't. It is true that it is essential to keep all of God's commandments to really "know him" (1 John 2:3-6). Yet, it is just as wrong to worship God in spirit with no truth as it is to worship with all truth and no spirit.

We must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (2 Cor. 13:5). There is far too many lifeless, ritualistic, religious people within the church buildings of our fellowship. With a some notable exceptions, there are far too many of my brethren practicing the motions of worship with little enthusiasm or excitement about their faith. I am afraid that we have fought so many battles against falsehood that we have forgotten the truth! A constant fear of liberalism and false teaching results in a fearful faith, huddling in a corner paralyzed by inactivity. Let's not be afraid to go about doing good!

No wonder we are not more evangelistic. We have forgotten the "good-part" of the Good News! Let us pray that God will "restore unto us the joy of our salvation," and then will "sinners will be converted" (Psalm 51:12-13). Our worship and service to God is not to be just an intellectual, ritualistic exercise. We are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength--our emotions are to be involved in our faith! Dare we have the kind of enthusiastic faith in our churches today that the lame man had--"walking, leaping and praising God"? (Acts 3:8).