Many Christians never really understand the true call of the gospel or the awesome blessings available for those who assent and pattern their lives upon it. God is not in anyway interested in our pastoral disengaged religious practices. The true state of our heart is revealed in righteous action on behalf of His people. That behaviour reveals the authenticity of our faith and the actual condition of our relationship with Him.
In Isaiah 58:1-14, the prophet makes it very clear that this is the case. The people ask why God pays no attention to their fasting and worship? The Lord responds, "Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers...Is not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness...is it not to share your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover him and not to hide from your own family? If you pour out yourself for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted...then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noon day" There is a undeniable link between a believer's behaviour and God's willingness to both hear and respond with blessing.
Jesus confirms this again in the gospel. "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe...and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. Those you ought to have done without neglecting the others...For you clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matthew 23:23-36)
Our righteousness is defined by God according to our response to the needs of the poor and homeless, the least and the lost, not by our religious fervour and liturgical observance.
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