Robert's Blog: December 2009

The heart is a central theme in God's story. We see from the very beginning that our hearts are inherently evil. Jesus tells us that "out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." At the center of Jesus' teaching was the idea that he was not so concerned with external expressions of affection and worship, rather He was concerned with a person's heart . He says of the Pharisees in the book of Matthew:

“‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Reading today from Spurgeon's Morning & Evening, "...rend your hearts and not your garments" I felt convicted that I don't always do that. So often I offer Jesus external worship by reading Scripture, praying, gathering for worship while my heart is far from Him. Sometimes I feel the need to put on an act that I am a holy person when in fact nothing could be further from the truth. For many this act would include props such as Christian t-shirts, bracelets, hats, and jewelry. It includes a soundtrack of Christian-only radio, and a rule that Christians only watch "Christian movies". Spurgeon addresses this when he notes "Garment-rending and other outward signs of religious emotion are easily manifested and are often hypocritical." He goes on "Offered without a sincere heart, every form of worship is a sham and an impudent mockery of the majesty of heaven."

I'm not saying that everyone who wears "Christian" clothing is putting on an act. In fact I know a few (OK, only one) Christians who choose to wear this stuff whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. I guess it's just a warning to myself and others to be alert to the fact that God is not pleased with us because we choose to wear a "God Squad" t-shirt. God is concerned with matters of the heart so please "rend your hearts and not your garments."