We Vipers

They seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right.

Ouch.

Thus sayeth the Lord through Isaiah in chapter 58. He’s raking Israel over the coals for their false religion. They put on their righteous faces and do all the “right things”. In particular, here, fasting is the hot topic. “Why have we fasted and you have not seen it?” the people are asking. Why aren’t you paying attention to us when we’re such good, religious people?

But the Lord lays to rest their righteous notions. They aren’t good people. “Is this the kind of fast I have chosen?” he asks. Just a day for you to look and act all humble and show off your righteousness? But in the same breath, you take advantage of people and quarrel and fight? You’re missing the point here, folks. THIS is what I have in mind for your “fasting”, he tells them:

To loose the chains of injustice

               And untie the cords of the yoke,

To set the oppressed free

               And break every yoke

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

               And to provide the poor wanderer with shelter –

When you see the naked, to clothe them,

               And not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

 This is a common theme among the Old Testament prophets – this mistaken notion that God’s wants our religious ritual rather than our just actions. In Micah 6:

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

In Amos 5:

I hate all your show and pretense—
    the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
    I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
    I will not listen to the music of your harps.
Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
    an endless river of righteous living.

This is harsh, people! And it wasn’t just the Old Testament prophets harping on this. At my Godspell rehearsals these days, I’m reminded of Jesus’ castigation of the Pharisees on the same topic:

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. . . You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?

Oh, friends. If we aren’t convicted by these words, what’s wrong with us?

Are we fastidiously donating percentages of our income to church and charity . . . but hesitant to help a single mother pay her rent because we question her choices in life?

Are we giving up sugar and caffeine for Lent . . . but unwilling to give up an evening a week to help a new immigrant learn English?

Are we singing and raising hands joyfully in our worship services . . . and then driving home, intentionally ignoring the needs in the community around our church building?

Are we speaking out against abortion and same-sex marriage . . . but unwilling to speak out against greed and injustice?

Have we become that nation that obliviously expects blessing from our God “as IF they were a nation that does what is right?”

Are we that brood of vipers?? Lord Jesus -- have mercy on us.