Amos 1-5

In these first 5 chapters Amos delivers a healthy amount of prophetic bad news. There is one section that I really loved (and that scared me a bit):

Amos 5:21-24 (ESV)

"I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

Take away from me the noise of your songs,

To the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

Let me give you the 21st century translation of this. "I hate it when you go to church. I hate it when you tithe. I hate it when you sing your worship songs and play your guitars. When you do these things, but don't treat your brother/sister with justice and live out your so-called faith, I am not pleased!" (NMV - New Myers Version)  Bottom line: God doesn't want our religious habits unless he can have our hearts/lives/obedience first.

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(The New Testament tie-in on this one is in Acts 7:42-43 where the early church deacon, Stephen, refers to Amos 5:25-27 in his sermon before he was stoned. He reminds the religious leaders how they turned away from God even when he was present with them in pretty visible ways.)