False religion

(Horatius Bonar, "False Religion and Its Doom")

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

"I will lay your corpses in front of your idols, and scatter your bones around your altars!" Ezekiel 6:5

There is such a thing as false religion.

It may be earnest and zealous, and yet false.

No amount of sincerity or zeal will make that true, which is in itself false.

False religion is the worship of a false god, or the false worship of the true God.

We worship the true God untruly, when we give Him only half a heart, half a soul.

Do not think that the utterance of some true words, or the expression of a little sentimental devotion, is the true worship of the true God.

False religion is useless.
It profits nothing and nobody--either here or hereafter.
It is not acceptable to God.
It will not be counted a substitute for genuine piety.
It does not satisfy the conscience.
It does not make the man happy.
It does not fill the heart.
It does not remove burdens.
It will not stand the fire.
It is but wood, and hay, and stubble.
The judgment will sweep it all away.
It is useless both for time and eternity--both for earth and Heaven. 

It is irksome and unprofitable, only cheating the poor worshiper into the belief that he has felt or performed something good and worthy.

God abhors false religion.
It has not one feature that is pleasing to Him.
It is merely external.
It is untrue.
It is against His Word.
It is dishonoring to Him.
It is self-exalting.
It is pure mockery.
It is rottenness and death.
It is a mouthful of words--a handful of dust and ashes.
Therefore God abhors it!

"I will lay your corpses in front of your idols, and scatter your bones around your altars!" Ezekiel 6:5