Please quit acting spiritual!

(by Don Fortner)

Please quit acting spiritual! In the privacy of your own closet before God — if you want to raise your hands and waive your palms, roll your eyes up toward heaven, and show by bodily gestures that you are super-spiritual, if you dare do so, go ahead. But do not act spiritual before men. Our Lord strictly forbids outward displays of religious devotion. Only self-righteous Pharisees do things to be seen by men!

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners — to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your closet, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:5-6