Lip Service

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. (Isaiah 58:2)

30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord. 31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. (Ezekiel 33:30-33)

7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:7-9)

"It's not about ticking boxes, it's about a relationship." How often is this true statement used as a cover for the iniquity described above? It is true that our obedience should come from a relationship with Jesus, and not as a formula to obtain favour from God or man. But usually the people I hear using such words defy biblical principles and justify themselves or each other by using this statement.
Most churches you find will be full of people drawing near to Jesus with their lips, especially expressing sublime devotion in the songs they sing. But when you get to know the people, a disconnect will be apparent between their words and actions. This seems to me to be especially characteristic of Contemporary Christian Music which tends to focus more on the devotion and love of the worshipper than the worshipped. I read a proverb once that reminded me of the song leaders of this genre:
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. (Proverbs 26:23)
Not to say that many of them aren't converted Christians, but according to some who have been part of that scene; many of these talented young people are open infidels when they are not on the stage. This culture is well and truly taking over the church perhaps because speaking words of passionate love for Jesus while openly spitting in his face through disobedience to his commandments is becoming normal. The church is full of Judases.
But we should take heart in the fact that God has not made it our responsibility to force others to be sincere. Jesus will thresh out his wheat and separate the sheep from the goats. Each one of us ought to carefully obey Jesus and plead with the Father to transform us into his character by the Holy Spirit as we read his word. Then we can be saved as a brand plucked from a blazing world and who knows but we may save others with us.