This weekend, we will consider how easy it is for us to fall into the trap of religion, rituals and rules. So often, we simply go through the motions and never consider why we do what we do. Our faith can become performance-driven and lose it's focus. In Matthew 12, Jesus is questioned about his lack of adherence to the religious laws of the day and his answer is simply, "My Father values mercy over sacrifice." Thus, we learn what matters to God, mercy, grace, forgiveness, compassion, and love. But somewhere along the way, the church forgot that we make it about orthodoxy and rules. We aren't much different from the Pharisees. Every week, I have a conversation or two with someone who is upset because somebody is doing something that doesn't jive with their rules or rituals. Matthew 12 makes it clear that's not what being a Christ-follower is supposed to look like. When the church becomes rigid and harsh, we repel those who are searching for Christ. We fail to do precisely what God created the church to do.
