When Rituals Replace Relationships

Posted by Pastor Pat on April 3, 2009

The essence of the Christian life is the relationship His people have with Him.  There is nothing else comparable to or capable of replacing this.  No amount of form, asceticism, indulgence, discipline, method, structure, program, or religion can replace the centerpiece of the Christian faith which is a relationship between God and His people.

This relationship is secured by God in the offering up of His Son for the sins of His people.  The relationship begins in God and is sustained by God.  Unfortunately, all we seem to do is clutter the relationship with nonessentials.  Everything created and all biblical revelation points us to Him.  Somehow in the journey we deviate and find detours that lead us from God by stopping us short of enjoying Him, and we end up existing in the shadow-lands of God’s person and work.

I cannot speak for everyone, so I will not attempt to.  What I will do is speak what I know and experience.  I have a propensity to replace the best with the good and the good will always be the enemy of the best.  Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, singing, reading, and fellowship (to name just a few) are all good things, but none of them were ever meant to be ends in themselves.  Such things, if noted incorrectly, will becomes ends, and in so doing, take us away from God and will not draw us to God.  Is it not simply amazing how something that is good can become the enemy of the best?  When any of our disciplines become duties, then its time to take a break and evaluate why we do what we do. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »