majoring in the minors

Scripture: Mark 7

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, ²they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands,^* thus observing the tradition of the elders; ⁴and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it;^* and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.^*) ⁵So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live^* according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ ⁶He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
“This people honors me with their lips,
   but their hearts are far from me;
⁷ in vain do they worship me,
   teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
⁸You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’ 9 Then he said to them, ‘You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition! ¹⁰For Moses said, “Honor your father and your mother”; and, “Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.” ¹¹But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, “Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban” (that is, an offering to God^*)— ¹²then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother, ¹³thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.’

Observation:

An initial read of this story suggests that there is some internal conflict or debate within first century Judaism having to do with interpretations of Scripture (the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament) and human-formed religious traditions or rules.  Like most religions and cultures, there were purity rules that were followed to one degree or another.  These cleanliness laws protected people from disease (thought to be related to evil spirits and the power of sin in the world).   We know a lot more about the spread of infection now.  And we know that washing hands is important for prevention.  No one today would argue that purity rules are important in avoiding the spread of infection.  So, what's Jesus' point?  Apparently, Jesus' followers were not participating in the routine purity practices around meals.  They were ignoring these traditions and eating with dirty hands. This disobedience marked them as "unclean" or "impure" and kept them outside the "safe community".  But Jesus turns the matter onto their accusers,  the religious leaders. He suggests that they are living as hypocrites, ignoring what truly matters in order to follow their "human traditions". They validate their own sense of "holiness" or "righteousness" as God's people, while excluding people who do not observe the way they do.  Jesus is intolerant of traditions and routines that create insiders and outsiders.  He's even angry about the way they use the rules to ignore greater responsibilities. 

Application:

We can get stuck in routines, patterns, and habits that distract us from doing the things that truly matter.  Churches (late 20th century American congregations) have too often "majored in the minors"---focusing energy and resources on things that matter only to a few "insiders" but mean nothing to the rest of the neighborhood, community, or world.  Church buildings and pipe organs became religious idols that determined a congregation's financial stewardship.  I have heard congregational leaders say, "We can't take care of the community until we take care of ourselves first".  It's no wonder so many people have abandoned American religion.
But Jesus' movement did not have a building (not even the temple) or a fancy instrument.  The only instruments were the voices and the healing hands of his followers.  We need to be discerning and critical of any religious requirement that threatens to take us off mission and message   The mission and message are reconciliation, forgiveness, healing, and inclusion of those who have been rejected, cast out, or marginalized in any way.  We are called to embrace those as beloved children of the one God.   And when routines, rituals, or religious activity gets in the way of the people we're supposed to care about, then we ought to stop doing them. 

Prayer:

Lord, you are critical of religious people who care a lot about minor things, but are indifferent toward major things; congregations and churches that care about furniture and instruments, but do not care about racial or economic injustice.  Keep us focused on the people and things that you care about.  Give us hearts that beat like yours.  Amen.