When Rite Becomes Wrong:

Turning Rituals into RitualismIsaiah 1:10-20

When Rite Becomes Wrong:

Turning Rituals into Ritualism

RitualThe prescribed order of a religious ceremony; a customary ceremonial

act.

RitualismExaggerated emphasis on the importance

of rites and ceremonies.

The Value of Repetitive Rituals

Repetition is Frequently Used in Training

Repetition of Rituals can lead to Ritualism

Repetition Makes It PossibleTo Act Without Thinking

Action Without ThoughtIs Good With Some Things;

Worship Is Not One Of Them.

Ritual in the Old Testament• The Old Testament Law contained

many rituals and ceremonies:• Many are found in the book of

Leviticus – rituals concerning sacrifices, priestly consecration, clean & unclean, and the Day of Atonement.

• Cleansing of Priests (Numbers 8:6ff.)

• The Passover (Numbers 9:2-3, 14)• Observance of rituals was necessary

to please God (2 Kings 17:26)

Old TestamentIsaiah 1:10-20

AssembliesSacrificesIncense

New TestamentHeb. 10:25; 1 Cor. 11:17-

30; Revelation 8:3-4 Assemblies

Lord’s Supper Prayers

Worship Involves Ritual

Our Rituals Must NotBecome Ritualistic

How Do We Deal with the Problem Of Ritualism?

• Not by altering the ritual. (Hebrews 11:4; Leviticus 10:1)

• Not by limiting the observance of the ritual.• By continually examining ourselves and our

worship. (1 Corinthians 11:28)• By living holy lives (Isaiah 1:14-16; James 4:8)• By keeping a God-ward focus. (Psalm 95:1-6)• By climbing higher and digging deeper into

the meaning of our rituals (Romans 6:3-6; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17)