The Sin of Formality | sermon by Father. Mungamuri Devadasu | Bible Mission

Formality refers to doing something merely because others are doing it, acting out of obligation rather than conviction, or performing an action out of fear of what others might think. It also includes doing something reluctantly, fearing possible consequences if left undone. All of these aspects together constitute what is known as formality. This kind of superficial practice wastes our effort, commitment, and time. Therefore, we must remain vigilant. The sin of formality is prevalent in the Christian Church today. It is a danger, a great threat, a serious spiritual deception—one that people often fails to recognize. Because it is an unnoticed transgression, everyone must be cautious about it daily.

One consequence of this sin is that it prevents us from overcoming other evils within us. Another danger is that it leads to more superficiality; when we practice formality in one aspect of life, it extends into other areas, creating a cycle of insincerity.

Four Experiential Illustrations

1) The First Illustration: When beginning to pray about a specific matter, habitual words often flow automatically. Though these words may sound good, they become meaningless if spoken out of mere routine. Such prayers lack sincerity and are empty formalities. To overcome this, pause for a few moments before praying. Close your eyes, remain silent, and focus your thoughts entirely on the Lord. As you do this, the fog of empty formality will fade, and a genuine flow of prayer will emerge. When this happens, your heart will be filled with an indescribable joy and peace. That is when you can recognize that your prayer is truly genuine. If you confess your sins sincerely during prayer, and do so repeatedly, the cloud of insincerity will completely disappear. Then, you may experience deep sorrow over your sins, tears, trembling, groaning, and the heartfelt cry, "Oh, how sinful I am!" You will find yourself pleading, "Father, forgive me!" This is the sign of true repentance and sincere prayer.

Remember this: Prayers spoken out of formality go no further than the roof of your house. But a sincere prayer rises from your heart, passes beyond your body, breaks through your rooftop, pierces the clouds, surpasses the stars, and reaches the very throne of God, falling at His feet. Such a prayer requires earnestness, boldness, determination, and perseverance that overcomes all obstacles. O reader, learn this, practice it, and remain on your knees until it becomes a reality in your life. Then your time in prayer will never be wasted.

2) The Second Experiential Illustration: When you read the Bible, does it sometimes feel dull, uninteresting, or unhelpful—like just another story? Do you fail to find anything personally uplifting in it? The reason for this is the presence of empty formality within you. Before reading Bible, pray first, saying: "Lord, remove this spiritual dullness from within me." Then, begin reading again. You will notice a difference—the Bible will start to make sense, and the stories will feel personally relevant. You will realize that every word was written for you. This will fill you with great joy, replacing any sense of boredom or confusion. Your mind will be enlightened, and new insights will arise from the text. You are truly blessed when this happens! The Bible will appear fresh and new, even if you have read it before.

However, if you read the Bible merely out of obligation—like a student studying just to pass an exam—it will not inspire you. Instead, it may feel like a harsh, rigid, or unappealing book. This is why you must be careful not to let Bible reading become a mere routine. Since it is a book meant for daily reading, it can become overly familiar, losing its significance if approached carelessly. This is a serious danger. Because the Bible is God’s holy book, we must esteem it more than any other book in the world. If you fail to do so, recognize that empty formality is at work in you. Consider the example of Muslims and their treatment of the Quran. They handle their holy book with great reverence, often wrapping it in cloth, never placing it carelessly, or giving it away thoughtlessly. While their devotion is admirable, reverence without understanding is incomplete. Similarly, some people own a Bible as a symbol of faith but handle it carelessly—placing it anywhere, leaving it uncovered, or treating it as just another book. While they claim to honor its teachings, their actions suggest otherwise. Such negligence often stems from ignorance and lack of awareness.Therefore, removing this ignorance is essential. For those who cherish the Bible, careless treatment of it can be deeply offensive and disrespectful to their faith. Thus, it is wise to avoid such behavior and approach the Bible with both reverence and understanding.

3) The Third Experiential Illustration: A preacher thinks to himself: "Tomorrow, I have a sermon to deliver at church. It would have been better if I had one more week to prepare. But since I have no choice, I will get ready." He then reads commentaries, takes notes, carefully structures his sermon, and delivers it in church. Once finished, he feels satisfied that his duty is complete. But this is an empty, formal sermon. Such a sermon lacks the help of the Holy Spirit; it is merely a product of human effort. This should not be so—it is a great spiritual trap. O preacher! To avoid this trap, spend a few moments on your knees before preparing. When you do, your notes will come alive, your commentaries will carry real meaning, and your message will have divine impact. As you preach, new insights will arise—thoughts you never prepared—filling you with awe and inspiration. A preacher who is more concerned about impressing others or avoiding criticism is also trapped in empty formality. The names of those who live by formality will not be found in the Book of Life.

4. The Fourth Experiential Illustration: A person gives an offering in church, thinking: "If I don’t contribute, others might judge me. If I give more, the church leaders will be pleased with me."  This too is an act of empty formality, a deceptive spiritual trial. No matter how generous the offering, it holds no true value if given with the wrong heart. Consider the Pharisee—he fasted, tithed, and prayed. Yet, he found no favor before God because his righteousness was only an outward display. In contrast, the tax collector, who simply prayed, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner”, was justified before God (Luke 18:10-14). The Pharisees and scribes followed religious traditions meticulously, yet lacked genuine devotion. That is why Jesus strongly rebuked them in Matthew 23. Satan subtly influences believers to seek recognition in all things. He infiltrates even acts of worship, turning them into self-serving rituals. His job is to corrupt good works; our job is to guard against his deception.