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The other morning I put a mug of water into the microwave as I always do to make tea. When I took it out two minutes later, the water was cold. Oops. I forgot to turn on the microwave! It reminded me of last August when the same thing happened. Then I paid attention as I turned it on: the fan whirred, the light came on, the turntable rotated. Two minutes later, the unit beeped four times, and the display reported, “Food is ready.” Voila! Except the water was still cold.

Everything worked except the microwaves! That is, no transformation! All form, no substance. And interestingly, it didn’t even provide an error message. Famous U2 vocalist Bono defines religion as “what happens when God has left the building.”

[Samson] did not know that the Lord had left him.” (Judges 16.20, NIV)

Jesus says about the church at Sardis: “You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3.2, NIV)

Having a form of godliness, but denying its power. (2 Timothy 3.5, NIV)

True of churches. True of individuals. God has to do the work of transformation as we allow him access through the Word and prayer, and we respond in obedience.