"The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.  When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations— I cannot bear your evil assemblies. Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood."

One is reminded of events of recent days in which religiously zealous Muslims commit atrocities in the name of God while maintaining their vain religiosity. But there were times in history when Jews and Christians also portrayed similiar characteristics. God is not impressed with religious ritualism, quite the contrary. If people aren't worshipping in spirit or not carrying out such rituals in the spirit in which God intended, going through the motions becomes itself a practice of sin. "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."John 4:24 The Christian life is not simply attending church and going through the motions of singing songs and partaking of the communion service. It is more importantly living out the Christian life outside of the Sunday service on a moment by moment basis.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1,2