In the Gospel Advent reading for today, Matthew speaks some very challenging words.
In fact, I heard a message from Rob Bell recently entitled "Gnats & Camels" I think...which was a great take on these verses.
I'd really like to dig more into this idea and explore the ways in which religion (as a human effort) is an obstacle to the Kingdom of God. A friend of mine has indicated an interest in sharing a message/sermon on the topic of "things the world hates about Christians" or something like that.
I think this is a great passage for something like that because it just nails the premise. Religion is predominantly a system of misplaced effort and altruism. As Matthew says here, the religious leaders where so good at applying Torah to one little area or specific situation but would totally miss the important (weightier or heavier) issues!
So we can have this drama over the style of a worship song, or whether there might be too many candles in play (I think anything over a dozen is considered emergent and potentially heretical) while some kid or family literally goes unfed, unclothed, or worse...unnoticed within a few miles of our "church!"
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