A Religious Cushion?

Tim Keller on Romans 2.25-29 (Romans For You):

Dead orthodoxy makes the church into a religious cushion for people who think they are Christians, but in fact are radically and subconsciously insecure about their acceptance before God. So every Sunday, people gather to be reassured that they are all right. Various churches offer this reassurance in different ways: 

Legalistic churches produce detailed codes of conduct and details of doctrine. Members need continually to hear that they are more holy and accurate, and that the “ liberals ” are wrong. They functionally rely on their theological correctness. Sound doctrine equals righteousness. 

Power churches put great emphasis on miracles and spectacular works of God. Members need continually to have powerful or emotional experiences and see dramatic occurrences. They rely on their feelings, and on dramatic answers to prayer. Great emotion equals righteousness. 

Sacerdotal churches put great emphasis on rituals and tradition. Guilt-ridden people are anaesthetized by the beauty of the music and architecture, and the grandeur and mystery of the ceremony. Following liturgy equals righteousness. 

Of course theological accuracy, moral conscientiousness, praying in faith, being powerfully affected by gospel truths and beautiful worship are all good things! But these elements are so easily, and so regularly, used as a form of “dead works”— replacements for reliance on the righteousness revealed by God in Christ, and received by us in Christ.