Whitewashed Tombs And Dead Bones

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." (Matt: 23:27-28 NIV)

One of the highlights of my visit to Ireland was going to be a visit to the beautiful St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. But, I did not find it so! It is a museum. Certain areas of the church are quite beautiful; but, if you step back for the bigger picture, it is quite cluttered with artifacts, statues, and unused chairs as well as other "stuff" being stored in open areas quite visible from the sanctuary. I was told that only one or two dozen worship in that sanctuary on any given Sunday. That huge sanctuary and it is empty!

Just because something or someone may look beautiful at first glance does not mean that they are truly beautiful or useful. Churches around the globe have become like museums; beautiful on the surface; but, on closer examination they have become very much like museums; devoid of life.

Not only have the buildings which we call churches become like tombs, devoid of life; so too are many who call themselves children of God. They do not find life in Christ. They seek life in this world. Alas, so many who would call themselves by the name of Christ have become like empty tombs because they prefer museums than living their lives in real relationship with God and one another. How the church looks; whether we "look" righteous, whether we "look" clean, with all the right furniture and all the right people have become the all important factors that go into building up the visible church. Beautiful hymns have all become like funeral dirges of long ago. Rather than the lifting up of what God has done for us in joyous or triumphant song; they have become devoid of hope. They are devoid of life.

Alas, the visible church on earth is full of bones of the dead and everything unclean! Turn to the Lord and worship Him and may God give life to all the dead bones.

God's Peace - Pr. J