“They knelt down before him in mockery, pretending to pay him homage.” (Mark 15:19 TPT)
Mock trial competitions that simulate real court cases are popular in schools and colleges. These imitation trials allow students to role play and learn about the legal system. They dress up, prepare speeches, and perform their parts. Everyone involved is aware that they are pretending, but the participants still take their roles seriously.
Mock worship is similar. In Christian congregations, groups of people gather together. There are plenty of roles to play--pastors, elders, deacons, parishioners, greeters, ushers, money counters, singers, sound and light technicians, etc. We dress up, make speeches, sing songs, kneel, stand, and sit at prescribed intervals. We pay homage to God with words, but our lifestyles rarely align with the Gospels. Although most of us are aware of the pretense at some level, we maintain the illusions out of traditions. We fail to admit that we are making a mockery out of the teachings of Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment