we can be such dills

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. Matt:23:23

last night me and em were reading this passage where Jesus is ripping into the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, most of the time we focus on the message that it's what inside that counts... and this is true the passage is saying that the outward appearance is not as important as the inward condition.... but I reckon this can actually turn around and bite us on the bum! ... I will explain....

I was also listening to a podcast featuring NT Wright about Gnosticism (gnosticism is basically the belief that the inward "spirit" is good and the world and our body's are bad) and i couldn't help but think we could take these passages in a gnostic sense....

Its ok if the kids in Africa die of preventable diseases, because my soul is saved...

Its ok if the world is being destroyed so i can buy petrol for $1 a liter, because my soul is saved...

Its ok if the homeless in my city are not cared for, because my soul is saved...

Jesus in V23 says that the Pharisees give a 10% of there spices but neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness. Perhaps we need to realise that if our inward life is right then our external action will be changed.... this is opposite to the gnostic thought...

I am not getting on the soap box to say i am good at this... in fact as this message sunk in deeper as i realised how little my inward conviction effects my outward actions...

what do you think?