The problem of reducing Torah to a checklist

The key is to have clear sight of the goal and to be committed to doing whatever represents the current wisdom in order to achieve that goal. If we try to reduce the goal to a checklist of practices and behaviors, it is likely that we will lose sight of the larger goal. Extracting a list of principles has the potential to undermine the importance of some of the more abstract ideas.—Walton and Walton, The Lost World of the Torah, 164

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Sounds similar to the accusation Jesus made to the Pharisees—and he would likely make to us. We jump through hoops sometimes, but are they right hoops? I suspect that more frequently than we would like to admit, they aren't.

By the way, merry Christmas!
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