A Great Evil

How does one know when a great evil masquerades as faith? There are symbols but no life, there are words with no impact, the outside of the vessel (both church and person) becomes the priority while the inside rots with stagnation of a life unmoved by the presence of God. The most dangerous version of religion is the one which simulates piety but leaves the soul unchanged….words without impact, symbols without life, activity without transformation. We should fear this above all else for it allows putridity to grow in the quiet corners of an unchanged life, emerging eventually as an unchained evil. Word, song, and action without transformation inoculate the soul with a simulated piety that is entirely resistant to the work of the Spirit.

The strongest words of Jesus were reserved for those in leadership who had fallen into the rhythm of a faith masquerade, carefully cleaning the outside while leaving the inside drowning in the rot of an untransformed life. To the religious leaders of his day he said, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?” (Luke 11:39-40 NIV)

May we always be a team of leaders wildly committed to our own transformation, knowing that this constant gentle (though often painful) work in our lives will spill out into our families and into our leadership. May we be known for our gracious insistence that all who attend our churches and ministries join us on this path of transformation. May we fear, above all else, words without impact, symbols without life, and activity without transformation that allows evil to grow in the quiet corners of an unchanged life. May we never be a people who allow word, song, and action without transformation to inoculate the souls of those we lead with a simulated piety that is entirely resistant to the work of the Spirit.

On the Journey with you,

Dan 

Dan Scarrow

District Superintendent