Walking together

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? - Amos 3v3

This is one of those verses that sadly, most the time you hear it mentioned; you hear it out of context. I once had a church drop my support because I did not agree with them on some finer point of a personal standard. This was the scripture they used to back up their decision. I thought ‘If that is what this verse means my wife and I can’t even walk together because we disagree on A LOT of things!

The context here has nothing to do with two people, though it is a decent principle I suppose. 

The question asked of the people here is if they can walk with God unless they are in agreement with Him. The context is clear; God is addressing the nation in their sin and how their sin keeps them from really walking as His people. They acted like they were doing right, but were doing so without really agreeing with God. Their walk was only a show.

As usual, the lessons of Israel also have a lesson for us.

We all know that it is possible to put on a show and act like we are walking with the Lord. We say and do the right things. We dress just right, say the right ‘amens’ and ‘hallelujahs,’ we sing the right songs and do the spiritual show, but all the time it is just that – a show.

A show is not enough. If our walk with God is genuine it must be based on agreement with Him. Until we get our hearts in tune with his our supposed walk with Him is an illusion.

Many years ago I got tickets to the European Open golf tournament at the nearby K-Club. One guy gave his friend his camera and followed Ian Woosnam as he walked toward the green. From all appearances it looked like this guy was part of Woosnam's party, but Woosnam didn't know he was there. It was just a show so he would look good. 

Do we really, truly walk with God?  Or do we just tag along so we can look good?