The issue for Zechariah comes...
Illustration
The issue for Zechariah comes down to the question of true religion. People then, as people now, struggled with the meaning of true religion. The answer of the prophets to Jesus remained the same: "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy each to his brother, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart."
It is not found in our creeds, our hymns, our sermons, our traditions, or anything that seems religious. The truly religious person is the one with love, goodness, and truth in what he or she says and does. The worst thing the church could do for God would be to let people do religious things without doing good things. It is not enough to go to church, tithe, pray, and commune. It is never enough to feel religious, righteous, and good. True religion manifests itself in our actions and attitudes toward the other children God has created.
It is not found in our creeds, our hymns, our sermons, our traditions, or anything that seems religious. The truly religious person is the one with love, goodness, and truth in what he or she says and does. The worst thing the church could do for God would be to let people do religious things without doing good things. It is not enough to go to church, tithe, pray, and commune. It is never enough to feel religious, righteous, and good. True religion manifests itself in our actions and attitudes toward the other children God has created.
