God is not Fooled

June 14, 2015 Background Scripture: Amos 5 Lesson Passage: Amos 5:14, 15, 18 – 27 We say that God is omniscient and then we go about living our lives as though God is clueless about what we are up to. We often act as though God does not see or hear us. Who’s fooling who? God denounced Israel for attempting to substitute religious activity for true piety and righteousness. God made it clear that He was not desirous of pious acts that did not come from the hearts of His people. God used very strong words to rebuke Israel for thinking that empty worship would satisfy Him. He said He hated their religious holidays and would not savor the prayers they offered during their worship assemblies. In fact, God declared that He would ignore their prayers, supplications, singing, and music. What does worship accomplish if God ignores all of these things that we consider essential to a spiritual worship service? Why did God have such an attitude towards His people? God was displeased because Israel was not reflecting His image and likeness. Israel was abusing the poor among them and being unjust towards those who were in right standing with God. God was saying loud and clear “Stop pretending to worship Me and start living a just and righteous life that is befitting of those who are called by My name.” For people of God, the bar of righteous living is raised to a higher standard than for others. This lesson teaches us that unrighteous living and unjust acts towards the poor are not tolerated by God. God demanded an overwhelming amount of social justice to be sent forth by Israel as though it were a flood moving through the land. If there is an acme or crescendo in Amos’ prophecy, then it occurs towards the end of the fifth chapter. God did not want words; He wanted righteous living demonstrated through action. God did not want formality; He wanted justice. Amos can be described as the prophet of justice and righteousness. This is the heart of his preaching. What happens in the synagogues should show up in the streets. Lessons such as this bring into focus how the Bible is like a mirror to the soul. If we replace Israel of old with the church today, Amos’ prophecy would speak directly the heart of the problems and challenges faced by Christians today. Christianity was never meant to be a once-a-week talent and fashion show. Christianity is a religion of transformation of the individual and subsequently the local congregation. The local congregation is not meant to stay local but rather to become a transforming agent of the entire world population. Today, we are challenged to transform even the city block where the sanctuary stands. Too often we have become so internally focused that the very idea of missions is becoming a strange doctrine. Yet the topic of today still rings true “God is not Fooled.” So now that we have been called out, what are we going to do? Or put another way, if God is not fooled by our empty rituals, then what’s the point? Are we satisfied in deceiving others or are we deceiving ourselves? Who’s fooling who? Robert C. Hudson June 1, 2015