i wonder how this sermon would go over if he preached it now? how many would be right there with him and how many would be saying (or thinking)...
- he can't really mean that being angry with someone is the same as killing them. or saying "harsh" words with them is not just like, but actually is a dagger to the heart. doesn't he know how much they hurt me?
- really, no offering to God if someone has a problem with us?
- seriously! lust = adultery?
- the only reason for a divorce is marital unfaithfulness? you've got to be off your rocker cause that's not how it's practiced today.
- no vow's
- no revenge! not only no revenge but give to and love your enemies?
- pray for your enemies
- be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect?
this must all be figurative. right? God doesn't really expect this from us... does he? i mean, Jesus didn't....... actually...... do these things..... hmmmm
wow, what if he does? what if he embodied this to show us not only that it can be done, but how to do it? what if i embodied it? what if his people embodied this? what if there were no stories of church splits but stories of churches loving everyone they came in contact with. giving to all who are in need? what if we were a city on a hill... a light of hope and promise to the people around us. what if we were like salt and made people thirsty for living water? what if?
i guess it all goes back to our blessings. don't get me wrong, i believe that God has given this country a lot so we could be a blessing to the world. but in all the talk about people being blessed i wonder if we're slightly off base? to be blessed in this country is to fulfill the american dream. surprisingly, that's not what Jesus defines as being blessed.
so i'm left asking the question... how blessed am i? do i understand what it truly means to be blessed? can i read the beattitudes and at the end say with all honesty that i am blessed?
Lord, i want your blessings. as much as some of them go against what my flesh wants...
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
2 comments:
It struck me today how this was the first sermon that Jesus ever taught (at least in Matthew). We who have grown up in the church have heard the Beatitudes so many times that we're tired of hearing it... but to really look at it and realize how radical it was, how radical it is - there are lots of things that society deems as good or ok that Jesus says are not. And vice versa.
I tried to read it today as if it were the first thing I ever heard about Jesus and Christianity, and it really made me realize that there are quite a few things that need to get better in my life - it broke me out of my "good Christian" comfort zone.
Just a thought.
I agree that for a country founded in a large part by Christian groups, the modern American Dream is sadly off the mark. Quite a lot of the things done in God's name over the millenia have been a direct violation of the Beatitudes.
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