we live in a pretty germ conscious culture, right? we will use any free hand sanitizer we can find, and may even carry some around with us wherever we go. disease could be lurking on any and every door knob, public stair rail, shopping cart handle or table top. and with as many times a we clean ourselves, for some people it just becomes part of their daily routine. we don’t question daily baths, but people used to go a month or more without taking them. they would look at us like we were crazy today, but we see it as absolutely necessary. i know people that use a little too much sanitizer, but not to the point of being o.c.d. with it, they’re just weirded out by germs.

there are those people though who cannot help themselves, it is impulsive and has taken a foothold in their lives to the point of obsession. it has become a sickness to remain healthy. it may derive from any number of psychological factors, or it may have just been a part of who they were so long ago, that they don’t even think about why they are doing what they are doing. either way, it is a sickness of the mind that also affects the heart and soul of an individual.

they are trapped by themselves.

in mark 7:1-8, Jesus and His disciples are being hassled by some pharisees over a ritualistic handwashing that the disciples had neglected to take part in. they were looking at them like the person who walks out of the restroom without washing their hands. they were confused “why did you not do this most basic, and necessary thing?”, they were probably a little disgusted, a little disappointed, and feeling just the tiniest bit self-righteous.

Jesus then promptly calls them out for their shallow, faithless religion they used and claimed honored God. there was no joy in their hearts. there was no desire to please God. there was no striving for the sake of others. there was no service, or honor or love with them. it was all ‘step A then step B then step C (repeat).’

imagine the difference, if you will, between a 12 year old boy trying awkwardly to learn steps to a dance and the heartfelt performance of a professional dancer. one is all about routine, all about order, all about making sure everything is done just right so you don’t screw things up. on the other hand, you have someone who knows the routine so well, that they don’t even have to think about it anymore. they have taken it to heart, and now they can live it out fully, with passion and obvious joy. both saw the same steps, both know what needs to be done. one made it orders and rules and is totally self conscious. the other operates from both knowledge and passion and desire. they can also let go of themselves, and follow those patterns as second nature. the patterns are not what is bad, it is the heart behind them.

again, what we’re dealing with here is not some great  mystery. it’s not religion, it’s relationship. it’s not ritual, it’s the heart. use any cliched phrase along those lines. they’re over used, but very true. we just have to live out that relationship, knowing it’s not just an obligation to be met for the sake of a social standard. God desires our living hearts, our soul’s motives, to be tied to Him and His Will. and personally, i don’t think it’s asking too much of us to actually care about why we do what we do, and to care about others at the same time.