Ritualism

It is odd that we often think of the Old Testament as supporting a type of ritualistic religion, because such a view could hardly be farther from the text. We picture the ancient Hebrew religion as one that seeks to serve God via the performance of established duties yet that lacks internal principles of worship. When we examine the Scriptures we see that this is certainly not the case.

An examination of God’s Word shows that He did clearly value the rituals which He commanded the Israelites to perform. Such acts as the Day of Atonement, Sabbath rituals, and sacrifices were established by God as the preferred means of serving Him. When these duties were left undone, there were blameworthy motives present in the people that always led to apostasy or discipline. God valued the rituals that He established.

On the other hand, these rituals were never divorced from the internal acts of worship that we often think of as related to worship in Christ. This can be clearly seen in many places; Isaiah chapter 1 is a perfect example.

Isaiah rebukes the people of his day for their failures to worship God rightly. He uses strong language of condemnation to demonstrate that their failures were not just slight shortfalls, but rather a complete abandonment of God’s principles.

Specifically, he says that they have continued to perform the ritualistic duties that God established but that they have refused to worship God in their inner persons. Look at his words: “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” (v. 11). Isaiah refers to their burning incense (v. 13), new moon and Sabbath rituals (v. 13), the blood of different types of animals (v. 11), and their multiplied prayers (v. 15). In every way, it seems that they were abundantly obeying God’s commands to perform these rituals…and at the same time, utterly failing to perform them. How can this be?

This was the case because they had abandoned the true worship of God in righteous obedience—not the perfect obedience that could save them, for that was impossible (cf. Is. 64:6)—but in the true yielding of their whole selves to His purpose and saving intent. They no longer regarded His law as worth their attention (cf. 1:16-17), they failed to know God (1:2-3), they turned away from God instead of toward Him (1:4). Everything about them had been corrupted (1:5-8), but they did not have the sense to seek His forgiveness (1:18-20). They did not understand that it was not the rituals that mattered, it was the God who gave the rituals who mattered most, and without whom they were left bankrupt and hopeless.

We must understand that the danger of this sort of false religion extended beyond Isaiah’s day. Even Jesus used Isaiah’s words to rebuke the Pharisees of the first century (Matt. 15:8, from Is. 29:13). We must watch that our religion has not become mere outward zeal—if it does not penetrate to the depths of our person and our understanding, it will be worthless ritualism that cannot save, and that can only damn. Worship must be in spirit and in truth, both in the inner person and the outer person. It is with this kind of religion that we may truly know God, and knowing Him, we may serve Him rightly. May the Lord grant us a right heart of worship!

--Dean of Admissions