The Danger of Looking Spiritual Without Being Spiritual
Can you look spiritual and still be spiritually bankrupt? At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we’re discovering through Luke’s Gospel that the answer is a sobering yes. Jesus exposed this reality when confronting the religious leaders of His day—and His warning remains relevant for us today.
The Appearance of Spirituality
In Luke 20:45-47, Jesus warns about the scribes who loved their long prayers, religious titles, public respect, and the best seats in the house. They were living for appearances—for their attire, their recognition, their status.
The long robes they wore weren’t just fashion statements. They were symbols that said, “I don’t do manual labor. Other people work for me.” You can’t get down on your hands and knees to serve others in a long robe. You can’t wash feet, carry burdens, or meet practical needs while maintaining that image.
They wanted to be seen. They wanted to be heard. They wanted recognition. And Jesus exposed this heart attitude because Jesus doesn’t measure us by appearances—He measures us by our hearts.
God Sees Differently
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” God thinks differently than we do. He values differently. He measures differently.
At Lakeview Christian Church, our “Just 3” mission—Study, Share, Serve—is designed to align our hearts with God’s heart, not to create religious performance.
Study to Love and Know God: We study Scripture not to accumulate impressive knowledge, but to transform our thinking and align with God’s values.
Share to Know and Love Others: We share our faith not for recognition, but because we genuinely care about people’s eternal destiny.
Serve – Love in Action: We serve not to be seen, but because Jesus modeled servant leadership.
The Heart Behind the Actions
The scribes had all the external markers of spirituality:
- They prayed long prayers (but for show)
- They held religious titles (but loved the recognition)
- They occupied positions of honor (but exploited the vulnerable)
- They appeared righteous (but “devoured widows’ houses”)
Jesus said they would “receive the greater condemnation.” Not “may receive”—will receive. God is not impressed with appearance without compassion. He’s not moved by religious performance without genuine love.
Examining Our Own Hearts
This passage forces us to ask uncomfortable questions:
- Do I serve to be seen, or because I love God and others?
- Am I more concerned with my reputation than my character?
- Do I want recognition for my spiritual activities?
- Is my faith about performance or transformation?
At Lakeview Christian Church of Portage Lakes, we believe authentic faith shows itself in humble service. As Pastor Jim often says, “I don’t need a title to sound important.” True spiritual leadership looks like Jesus—humble, servant-hearted, focused on others rather than self-promotion.
The Antidote to Spiritual Bankruptcy
The cure for spiritual bankruptcy isn’t more religious activity—it’s genuine relationship with Jesus. It’s allowing Him to transform our hearts from the inside out.
Matthew 23:11-12 records Jesus saying, “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Real spiritual wealth is measured by:
- Humility over recognition
- Service over status
- Compassion over appearance
- Heart transformation over religious performance
Living Authentically
Being the change as Jesus has changed us means rejecting the scribes’ example and embracing Jesus’ model. It means:
- Serving without needing applause
- Giving without requiring recognition
- Praying without performing
- Leading by serving
- Loving without conditions
As we approach 100 years of ministry at Lakeview Christian Church, our legacy isn’t built on impressive programs or public recognition. It’s built on generations of believers who quietly, faithfully served God and loved others.
