"I think I'd like to go to Mt. Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud."
Twain's sharp reply was, "I've got a better idea. Why don't you just stay home and keep them?"
What a way with words, and how appropriate! While I'm often saddened by Mark Twain's mostly cynical view of religious faith, I have to agree with him that insincerity or hypocrisy doesn't fit at all with genuine religious faith. If we "talk the talk", we must be prepared to "walk the walk". My challenge to all is to be more intentional about making our actions match our words, especially with respect to our religious faith. There's probably no worse a testimony about one's religious faith than the lack of discipline and practice of that faith by one of its adherents. Let's not be someone's only excuse for rejecting religious faith because of our hypocrisy. Let's be obedient to God's commandments while we proclaim our faith in Him.