Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 6
William Law calls praise in the mouth of a murmurer “an abomination” and “empty-lipped labor…hypocrisy”; what would it look like to take that accusation seriously in a church culture where singing and verbal thanksgiving are common, and how might it change the way we evaluate “devotional faithfulness”?
Another way to ask: If it’s hypocrisy to sing praise while living as a murmurer, what would change in a church where singing and “thank you, Lord” are common? How might it change how we judge whether someone is truly faithful in their devotion?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Taking William Law seriously would mean evaluating worship not mainly by how often we sing or speak thanks, but by whether our everyday “common life” matches those words—otherwise our praise becomes hypocrisy rather than devotion.
- Law’s picture: a person strict about “appointed times for praising God” but in daily life “restless… full of murmurings and complaints.”
- He asks if such a person is truly thankful; his answer: such praise can be “abhorred as an abomination.”
- Key principle: “If our common life has any contrariety to our prayers,” then prayers become “empty-lipped labor… notorious hypocrisy.”
- The speaker agrees complaining shows inconsistency: quick to “praise God” yet quick to “complain about difficult circumstances.”
- He later defines the antidote as a lifestyle: make “every day…a day of thanksgiving,” not just church moments.