What leads us to such point of conflict?
The Bible talks about three stages from the conversation of Jesus with the Pharisees and Scribes who come to Him with a complaint. Read Mark 7:1-23.
First, “observing the tradition” (Mark 7:3)
Second, “teaching human precepts as doctrines” (Mark 7:7)
Third, “rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9)
Because our traditional or customary observance and conviction has become more dear to us and change becomes difficult.
Born in a Catholic cum Hindu family I have had this experience. At the Catholic church, traditions that were handed down for centuries were more important than the word of God. (Mark 7:13). (I have written were, because I hear and see a lot of changes taking place within the Catholic church, where the laity and the lay are now open enough to remove traditional practices to pave way for God’s Word to gain importance.) Since most of my relatives are Hindus, they used to take me to Hindu temples for worship, very often, when I was a kid. Where I have witnessed lots of “ritual washings”; the washing of legs (as the temple is considered a sacred place), bathing of the idols, etc.
The conflict can be physical (observances), ideological, doctrinal, etc.
But how do we safeguard ourselves from such conflicts?
Jesus also talks about one another important factor so central to this conflict.
The Pharisees were so close to the truth yet drifted away from it. The point of the matter is “defilement”; but the Pharisees laid stress on the washing of the “exterior” and gave no attention to the “interior”.
They keep talking about the “hands” (Mark 7:2, 5) whereas Jesus lays the importance on the “heart” (Mark 7:19, 21)
We are living in a success-driven, success-centric world where people tend to measure the value of a person from how successful one is. In course of pursuing success, less or no importance is given to the heart. Jesus said: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:21-23)
More than what I do, with what intention I do matters. More than what I speak with what intention I speak matters!
What is motivating our actions and talks today? Let us introspect.
Heart matters most than the hands! The attitude matters most than the act!!
Though the work and the ministry that we are involved in may flourish, our heart may not be right.
The Lord says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:9, 10)
To give the fruit of every man’s work, the Lord searches the heart! We cannot boast of great doings if our heart and its intentions are not right.
We need to constantly check the condition of our heart. Though the disciples witnessed two great miracles at the hands of Jesus and were part of it (as we read in Mark 6:30-52), the Bible says in Mark 6:52, “For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” And even after listening to Jesus’ discourse in Mark 7 and after witnessing the miracle in Mark 8:1-12, they were in the same state: “And, Jesus being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?””
Let us check our heart and attitude today and everyday and pray that the Lord may melt our heart and make it sensitive to His Spirit and voice. Let us be open enough to let go of our traditions and that which we are holding as precious, so as to obey the Word!
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true,
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You;
You are the Potter, I am the clay,
Mould me and make me, this is what I pray.
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Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Your love has melted my heart.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Your love has melted my heart.
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