The Be-Attitudes

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!