Rewriting Isaiah 1:13-17 in Context of the Church
Mood:  quizzical
Isaiah 1: 13-17
Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games:?monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!?Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out!?I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning.?When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way.?No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening.?And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. go home and wash up. Clean up your act.?Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don't have to look at them any longer.?Say no to wrong. Learn to do good.?Work for justice. Help the down-and-out.?Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.
Revised for the Christian Churches:
Quit your liturgical charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious services, weekly meetings, prayer services…I cannot stand them anymore. I’m bored with your activities that are self-serving while forgetting the poor, homeless and needy who walk the streets. Next time you pray during your self-serving prayer groups, I will turn my back to you and not listen as you are only offering words to yourself to feel good about yourselves. How can you call yourself my people when you don’t do the acts of mercy I require of you? Who do you think you are? You go about with all your god-talk while your actions deny my existence. When your actions actually reflect my good, then your god-talk might mean something. Get up and do something: work for justice for all people especially for my gay, lesbian, and transgendered children; meet the needs of the poor and homeless, comfort the mentally ill, and fight for the rights of the poor, marginalized, homeless and illegal immigrants above the wants of the rich, powerful and national interests. When you work towards those ends then you have earned the right in your god-talk.