“I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” Amos 5:21-24 NIV
God is not looking for people who will engage in religion, but in relationship with Him. Going through religious motions without choosing a righteous lifestyle is not only a waste of time, it actually angers God. Jesus said, those who worship God must do so in spirit and in truth. When your spirit is right with God and your relationship with Him is real, based in truth, rather than hypocrisy, He takes joy in your worship and is blessed by your offerings. He loves it when two or more are gathered together in His name, in fact He promises to be present when they do. So does God want you involved in a church? Yes! But apply what you learn there. If you just go to church on Sunday, then put God out of your mind the rest of the week, you might as well just sleep in on Sunday mornings.
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23 NIV
How do you know if in love with God or just religious? The test is simple: Do you obey God? Do you make every effort to live within the boundaries He has set for you in His word? If not, you are content with religion but not walking with God.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Romans 12:9 NASB