Outward conformity is not a sign of inward obedience. As I read through the accounts of the Old Testament Kings found in Kings and Chronicles and the corresponding prophets a picture is formed of God’s people that loved outward conformity without a love for whole-hearted obedience.
External Appearances
Evidence from external appearances formed a great picture of the Israelites. Religious festivals and solemn assemblies were celebrated. The burnt offerings and peace offerings were sacrificed. Furthermore, hymns of praise were sung. (Amos 5:21-23)
The Israelites went above and beyond what God had outlined in the Book of Moses. Each morning, they could be found at the altar of sacrifice when the trumpet signaled. The people paid more than the required tithe. Furthermore, they gave extra voluntary offerings. These things were done, not out of a deep love for God, but as the Scriptures point out they wanted to brag to others about their religious actions. (Amos 4:4-5)
Despite the people’s dedication to religious practices, their heart was not right. They worshiped idols alongside their hypocritical life of worship to God.
The Prophet’s Message
The prophets spoke out against the sins of the heart, idol worship and more. God’s message often was ignored by the people and the reigning king. At other times the prophets were chased out of the city or put to death.
King Joash had Zechariah stoned. (2 Chronicles 24:21). Amaziah, the priest of Bethel had Amos chased from the city. (Amos 7:12) King Zedekiah had the prophet Jeremiah thrown into a cistern where he sank into the mud. (Jeremiah 38:5 & 6)
Too often we skim the stories found within Kings and Chronicles. We feel they are from another day and no longer hold application for us. However, if we pause and take a deeper look, we will find a commonality that is chilling.
What happens when we are confronted with a wrong attitude that has been displayed? Or reprimanded for the sin of selfishness and pride?
We aren’t known for stoning our pastor and placing them in a cistern knee-deep with mud. However, have you ever been a part of mud-slinging a pastor’s reputation because of his God-anointed message that you didn’t want to take to heart? Have you served up “cold shoulder” when the pastor touches on a pet sin you don’t want to release?
What God wants in each of these scenarios is humble repentance and whole-hearted obedience.
However, too often we batten down the hatches of religious conformity when we grapple with a change that is needed in our interior life. We gather our righteous robes about us and just follow the rules more closely instead of dealing with the real problem.
Conformity Becomes our Cover-up
I can remember past disagreements with my husband when I did not want to admit I was in the one wrong.
In my foolishness, I did more. I took on more chores. The floor was mopped more, the porch was swept more, and the food was prepared with more flair. I wanted my outward performance to declare what my inner life could not.
Is it not the case of human nature to whisk wrongdoing out of sight, under the guise of right actions? We anticipate that pat on the back for dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s outwardly, but we fail to live out God’s love to others from the heart.
Think about traveling down the freeway. Eighty miles an hour seems to be the flow of traffic until a police car is seen. Instinctively, brake lights flash one after another. Before long the traffic becomes a perfect picture of conformity to the posted speed limit. We automatically slow down to the speed that guarantees us a safe passage.
In the spiritual world, I’m afraid we do the same thing. We think that outward conformity will assure us safe passage from this realm to the next. The people of Israel and Judah had this mentality. As long as they did “all the stuff of the law” they felt that everything was fine. However, God knew their hearts.
Even now, God knows our hearts. (Jeremiah 17:9 &10). We cannot hide behind a cloak of religious actions to disguise the filthy rags of our heart. God searches our hearts and examines our motives. He rewards according to what He finds.
God Uses a Surrendered Heart
Amos was just a shepherd of Tekoa. There had been no School of the Prophets for him. However, his heart was surrendered in obedience to God. His proclamations of judgment and repentance came from God. His actions and relationship with God were connected.
Amos’ mission was to declare to the people that God saw their pretense. God hated their hypocrisy. He was sick of their show of spirituality when all the while they were worshiping idols. However, in God’s mercy and compassion He sent Amos to them with a message of judgment, as well as beckoning them to repentance and restoration.
Again, and again God tried to get the people’s attention. He spelled out their sin in an effort to draw them back to Himself. Chapter 4 of this small book of Amos tells us no less than four times that the people still did not return to God in spite of God’s efforts.
God’s Call from Conformity to Obedience
“Don’t let religious activities
Soul Stillness
and outward conformity
become a substitute
for a thriving
relationship with God.”
The return of the heart to God is still a need of today. God does care about our exterior life. However, more important to God is the interior life of surrender and obedience. When we get that right the exterior will follow.
God calls us to whole-hearted obedience not just a conformity to religious rules and practices. Our actions must stem from a heart that is fully surrendered in obedience to God.
Is your outward life testifying to a lie in your inward life? Has hypocrisy become a way of life for you? Are you conforming to religious “p’s” and “q’s” with the hope you will gain safe passage to heaven through your actions?
Conformed to Christ’s Image
It is by God’s grace alone that we are saved. God’s continued grace and mercy walks with us as we are conformed into the image of His Son in our interior life. God’s inner work within us will become a flowing river of His righteousness that will spill out into the practices of our lives.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:9 & 10
Take inventory of your heart. Be attuned to the Spirit’s whispers. Make sure your inner life with God is connected to your outward religious practices.
Don’t let religious activities and outward conformity become a substitute for a thriving relationship with God.
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