Piety, religiosity, self-righteousness, blind obedience to the law, purity and holiness are not what the Good News of Jesus in Agape are about.
It is about faithful relationship based on Agape Love. Period. For God and for Neighbor (stranger, enemy, the most vulnerable, everyone).
The Temple cult leaders of Jesus' time wrapped themselves up in religiosity, piety, their version of purity and holiness and did not know or live Agape Love. It got them some power, some status and much wealth at the expense of others, but it did not make them faithful to God or Neighbor.
Agape - unconditional, self-sacrificing active commitment on behalf of the other draws us in Shalom - well-being, completeness and wholeness together for mutual good. It does not divide so that some have more than they need while others do not have enough for Shalom - enough love, provision, joy, peace and community for the living of these days.
The Temple cult leaders were inconsistent because living by the law is subjective to those who do not submit as servants to God, but who instead try to assert themselves as those who deserve power, wealth and status. When we focus on the Agape Love of Jesus' Good News teachings, commands and examples, as the center of our lives and the living of them, we cut through all the things that would keep Shalom from happening and find the joy and peace that come from love, and thus work toward Shalom for all those around us.
It is tragic for all concerned.
None of us is qualified to tell others how to live with God. Jesus claims we are ALL students. The best we can do is GO TO the Rabbi and serve the Teacher, submit to the Teacher's Way humbly and humbly live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us.
This is God's Kingdom and not ours. We are but student followers of the one who IS ONE. We are recipients of that perfect Love and Grace, and we are called to live that with one another unconditionally, even to self-sacrifice - to actively commit ourselves to the Shalom of even the stranger, enemy and most vulnerable among us. It really is that simple.
No religiosity, piety, self-righteousness or obedience to Law compares.
All purity and holiness belong to God.
Let us not be religious. Being religious creates a great deal of injustice, inequity and disunity, and the pain that comes with them.
Let us be faithful to the one we call Savior, Redeemer, fulfiller of the Law and Prophets and Lord of our lives. Let us live what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us in His Good News of Agape Love. In that is faithfulness. In that we will find Shalom in life - ALL of us, together.
Pastor Jamie
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