Out of focus

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.

Isaiah 1:13-17 (The Message)

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These verses have been weighing pretty heavily on my mind lately.  We go to church and worship God, but all but ignore the people who are in need, which is one of the main things God asked us to do in the Bible.  Take care of those who can't take care of themselves.  It makes my worship feel fake to me and that's not cool...because if it's not authentic, then why am I doing it?  It's all a show!