Unconscious Apostasy
Chapter one of Isaiah is the Lord’s commentary on the state of the people of Israel. There is no doubt that he is not pleased. With the exception of a “very small remnant,” the people had become as corrupt as Sodom. With highly descriptive language, God compares them to a “putrefying sore.“
If they had abandoned their sacrifices and feasts, you could understand the displeasure of the Lord, but that was not the case. Israel had continued to practice their religion but had somehow managed to stir up the wrath of God. Were the children of Israel aware that they were corrupt?
Verse 11 says it all, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.”
I have been harping on purpose or principle over practice and programs for many years. I saw the demise of the scouting programs in the church when I was in my teens because the focus of scouting had become about obtaining badges but lacked any form of merit. I acknowledge that some young men benefitted from the scouting program. Those who benefitted were the ones who took it seriously and used the process to learn new things and become competent in the skills outlined in the requirements. The ideals of scouting are, or should I say were, admirable, but the focus on making young men honorable, worthy, or competent went out the window when racing towards ‘advancements’ became the focus.
Verse 13 describes what happens when religious acts, practices, and rites have lost sight of the purposes and principles which are at the root or foundation of worshipful actions:
13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
What vision would the Lord show him if Isaiah lived among us now? It is easy to imagine that the indictments would be devastating if he spoke about worldly conditions and trends. However, Isaiah wasn’t describing the world Israel was in; he was describing Israel. So what would he say about those of us who profess to be God’s chosen people?
Some good questions we could all ask about ourselves are:
Why do I go to church?
Do I contemplate my standing before God when I take the sacrament?
Do I pray with real intent?
Am I more concerned with my will, or thy will be done?
I submit that we all suffer from some degree of unconscious apostasy. If we think, “I am a good person because (fill in the blank),” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
When I read this first chapter, I started thinking about how I could fortify myself against becoming complacent. It is one of my constant struggles, and I don’t think I’m alone. To avoid unconscious apostasy, I must be conscious of the purposes behind my religious practices. Are my prayers simply incense floating in the direction of heaven? Are my sacrifices really a sacrifice, or do they consist of my spare time and the leftovers of my abundance?
Verses 16-19 give us the solution to unconscious apostasy:
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Does this mean that if we find ourselves going through the motions without thinking about why we are doing them, we are better off abandoning the practice? NO! All of us go through periods when we become less focused or when we become distracted by pressing obligations that present themselves in troubling times. It is challenging to remain at the pinnacle of spirituality, or anything else for that matter. If you are drifting, find a quiet place and reestablish your relationship with our loving Heavenly Father through prayer and meditation. Take some time to think deeply about who you are and your true purpose.
The antidote to unconscious apostasy is to remain conscious of your actions, especially those relating to worship and devotion to God. I believe that when we make an extra effort in this regard, we are less troubled by the multitude of challenges and suffering that beset us all and become more pleasant and joyful. Go forward with faith and see what good you can do and feel.