Not so many years ago, almost all little girls enjoyed playing dolls. It was amazing how realistic some of them looked! With the boys, the thrills didn’t come with frills; It was war, and army men were expendable! Today, child’s play happens on the little screen, with animated characters who are programmed to promote sensual fashion or heroic gore.
Adults are no different. Millions of dollars are invested each year and hundreds of millions of hours are spent thumbing a cell phone or controller to advance from screen to screen in a supernatural world of make believe.
As harmless as it may seem, our let’s pretend mentality is detrimental to our spiritual lives. The prophet Isaiah penned a timeless warning when he expressed God’s displeasure in play religion. God said,“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. (Isaiah 1:13).”
Our own repetitious prayers before indulging in a delicious meal, reading our Bible only to boast of finishing in a year, fasting to lose a few pounds rather than for fervent fellowship with God, are all a version of let’s pretend that is an abomination to God. When we hold office in a church only for the prestige, or attend church only to prevent others from thinking less of us, or present our offerings to earn the praise of man, God is sickened. The sin of pretend christianity destroys divine fellowship!
Thankfully Isaiah also provides a remedy. He writes, “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (Isaiah 1:16-17).” Confessing and forsaking our sin is paramount in maintaining fellowship with the Almighty. With our Lord’s forgiveness and a new beginning, you can have victory over let’s pretend in your relationship with God.