These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it.
(Matthew 15:8 MSG)
Growing up, I had to learn quite a few languages, and they were not all by choice. They were either spoken at home or in the country I lived in. As a born-again Christian, I also learned a new language: Christianese. You know, those words or phrases Christians use that sound “Christian.” And like any new language you learn, people can tell whether it’s your native language or not.
Jesus knew the Pharisees and religion scholars spoke a language that they learned by choice and not by will. When they came to Him with questions about their man-made religious rules, “Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands?”‘ (Matthew 15:3). Then He went on to quote the words of the prophet Isaiah and told them, “Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye: These people make a big show of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it”‘ (vv.7-8). Ouch, that must have hurt their ego!
Learning to speak Christianese is a great accomplishment. But just remember that God is looking for people who not only say the right thing, but who also mean it.
Walk the talk if you want others to follow the Rock.
Rising with the Son 