The One Game Most Universally
Played by A. W. Tozer Most church people play
at religion as they play at their games. Religion itself is the
one game most universally played. The church has its fields and
rules and its equipment for playing the game of religion. It has
its devotees, both laymen and professionals, who support the
game with their money and encourage it with their presence, but who
are no different in life or character from many who take no interest
in religion at all. As an athlete uses a ball, so
do many of us use religious words. We throw them swiftly across
the field and learn to handle them with dexterity and grace.
We gain as our reward the applause of those who have enjoyed the
game. In the secular games which people play, there are no moral
benefits. They are simply a pleasant activity
which changes nothing and settles nothing of any importance. Sadly,
it is much the same in the game of religion. After the pleasant
meeting, no one is basically any different from what he had
been before. How I wish one of you would shut the temple doors
so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered. I am not
pleased with you, says the Lord Almighty, and I will not accept
your offerings. Malachi 1.10