I've read and heard the Beattitudes so many times, that I will admit, when people start talking about them, I just kind of tune 'em out. When I read them at face value, I think to myself...It's really neat that Jesus esteems the poor, and merciful, and those who mourn and make peace so highly, but I'm not really one of those people, so He's not really talking to me here. I'm not poor, I show mercy every now and again, I have mourned a couple times over the loss of relatives, I try to seek righteousness and be pure-hearted, but fail more often than not. So, it's a beautiful passage, but one that seems impossible for me to ever live up to. So, I just read it and continue on.
This past weekend, Grant taught on the Beattitudes (it's one of his favorite passages, go figure!), and in doing so, found a website/blog dedicated to the Beattitudes, encouraging and inspiring regular folks like us to actually live out the Beattitudes. I'd encourage you to take a look at the website (wecan.be). The challenge set forth is so beautiful. The author, Dave Andrews, puts forth a "Beattitudes for our world" that I found really refreshing. Here is his version:
1. Blessed are the poor – or poor in spirit – who do not trust in status or riches
2. Blessed are those who mourn – who grieve over the injustice in the world
3. Blessed are the meek – who get angry but who never get aggressive [my favorite!]
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness – who seek justice [in Scripture, righteousness and justice have the same root words, and are used interchangeably]
5. Blessed are the merciful – who are compassionate to everyone in need
6. Blessed are the pure in heart – who are whole-hearted in their desire to do right
7. Blessed are the peacemakers – who work for peace in a world at war
8. Blessed are those persecuted for righteousness – who suffer for just causes.
Dave Andrews challenges us that if we each pray and strive towards living out these be-attitudes, we can actually be agents for change in the world, one small person at a time, until change finally occurs. I whole-heartedly agree. If these are indeed the attitudes and actions that God blesses, then they should be able to turn the world upside-down!
If you can't tell yet from my blogs, I believe with all my heart that if we really obey the commands and challenges of Jesus, transformation will happen in our lives, in the lives around us, and then in systems and structures of our world. I believe we are called into the world to be Christ, who desires to redeem and reconcile all things to Himself (Colossians 3). How can He do this without us, His ambassadors here on earth? So many years, I lived my life as though there is no hope for the awful, sinful world around me. It's bad, and it's gonna continue to be bad. Well, I'm ready to take up the Be-attitudes of Christ and His challenge to bring His Hope, Justice, and Reconciliation to this hopeless and forlorn planet!
So, Dave Andrew's challenge to myself and to you: post the above Beattitudes somewhere where you will see them often, in you house, work, car, etc. Let them soak into your heart, and then start living them, one day at a time, through lots of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Bridging the Gap
"The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood..." John 1:14 (The Message)
I'm not sure that any other verse could better sum up what has motivated Grant and I to move to a slum in India. Jesus left His throne in heaven, and took up a simple life of carpentry, became friends with 12 simpletons, and then showed us all the Father.
I've been reflecting a lot on poverty (whether here in America or India) and its roots and its cures. I've read so much in the last couple years about these issues and how many folks have worked to relieve or end poverty in their communities. But, one thing that keeps coming back to me is RELATIONSHIP.
So many of us give contributions to the poor and ministries to the poor and that is so necessary, and I in no way want to discourage that giving. Please give monetarily, as much as possible, to the poor and ministries to the poor. But, I'd like to encourage you to take another step along with your giving.
I'm convinced that poverty cannot cease where there is no relationship. I believe much of poverty (except that caused by catastrophe) exists because of lack of relationship - with Christ and with people who love and care. People who live in poverty lack dignity, hope, and desire. They don't have jobs because they don't believe in themselves, they don't know how to put a resume together, they don't know where to go to find listings, etc. What would happen if more ordinary Jesus-followers would befriend, face to face, a person in need, listen to their story, restore their dignity, and help them get on their feet?
Now, I know that this is risky...there is always that chance that the person in need will reject your help, abuse your time and efforts, and continue to make wrong or hurtful choices. In these kinds of situations I tend to throw up my hands and give up and say what's the use. But, then God gently reminds me that this is how I am so often with Him. And that His compassions are new EVERY morning. Who am I to give up on a person in need, when I myself am a person in need or God's grace and mercy every new day? It comes back again to my RELATIONSHIP with God. It is God's nurturing in my life, His love, the fellowship of His Body that keeps going. It's the lack of those things that keep people in a cycle of poverty and need.
In Matthew 25, in the story of the sheep and the goats, Jesus speaks quite clearly about how things will go down in the final judgment. The sheep, those welcomed into Christ's Kingdom, are marked by their RELATIONSHIP to those in need. "YOU gave me food...YOU gave me drink...YOU welcomed me...YOU clothed me...YOU visited me...YOU came to me." It's a personal taking of time to be with and minister to those in need, face to face.
There are so many ways that this could play out in your life. I don't know your circumstances or where you live, I only know that Jesus is asking us to be in relationship with the needy. So, I just want to challenge you, be a friend to someone in need. Be taken advantage of in the name of serving Christ and bringing hope to a strange in need. Take a risk on someone that will never be able to repay you or give you the appreciation you deserve. It's what Christ has done for us. Let's do it for others.
I'm not sure that any other verse could better sum up what has motivated Grant and I to move to a slum in India. Jesus left His throne in heaven, and took up a simple life of carpentry, became friends with 12 simpletons, and then showed us all the Father.
I've been reflecting a lot on poverty (whether here in America or India) and its roots and its cures. I've read so much in the last couple years about these issues and how many folks have worked to relieve or end poverty in their communities. But, one thing that keeps coming back to me is RELATIONSHIP.
So many of us give contributions to the poor and ministries to the poor and that is so necessary, and I in no way want to discourage that giving. Please give monetarily, as much as possible, to the poor and ministries to the poor. But, I'd like to encourage you to take another step along with your giving.
I'm convinced that poverty cannot cease where there is no relationship. I believe much of poverty (except that caused by catastrophe) exists because of lack of relationship - with Christ and with people who love and care. People who live in poverty lack dignity, hope, and desire. They don't have jobs because they don't believe in themselves, they don't know how to put a resume together, they don't know where to go to find listings, etc. What would happen if more ordinary Jesus-followers would befriend, face to face, a person in need, listen to their story, restore their dignity, and help them get on their feet?
Now, I know that this is risky...there is always that chance that the person in need will reject your help, abuse your time and efforts, and continue to make wrong or hurtful choices. In these kinds of situations I tend to throw up my hands and give up and say what's the use. But, then God gently reminds me that this is how I am so often with Him. And that His compassions are new EVERY morning. Who am I to give up on a person in need, when I myself am a person in need or God's grace and mercy every new day? It comes back again to my RELATIONSHIP with God. It is God's nurturing in my life, His love, the fellowship of His Body that keeps going. It's the lack of those things that keep people in a cycle of poverty and need.
In Matthew 25, in the story of the sheep and the goats, Jesus speaks quite clearly about how things will go down in the final judgment. The sheep, those welcomed into Christ's Kingdom, are marked by their RELATIONSHIP to those in need. "YOU gave me food...YOU gave me drink...YOU welcomed me...YOU clothed me...YOU visited me...YOU came to me." It's a personal taking of time to be with and minister to those in need, face to face.
There are so many ways that this could play out in your life. I don't know your circumstances or where you live, I only know that Jesus is asking us to be in relationship with the needy. So, I just want to challenge you, be a friend to someone in need. Be taken advantage of in the name of serving Christ and bringing hope to a strange in need. Take a risk on someone that will never be able to repay you or give you the appreciation you deserve. It's what Christ has done for us. Let's do it for others.
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