To follow Jesus means self-renunciation and absolute adherence to Him, and therefore a will dominated by lust can never be allowed to do what it likes.
Lust is unpure because it is unbelief, and therefore it is to be shunned.
The gains of lust are trivial compared with the loss it brings--you forfeit your body eternally for momentary pleasure.
Marriage is consecrated to the service of love, which is possible only in a life of discipleship. Christianity sanctifies marriage. The law helps to uphold the purity of marriage.
Protect your marriage. It is a beautiful thing.
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Cost of Discipleship: Brother
To be a disciple means to be completely innocent of anger.
"Anger is always an attack on the brother's life, for it refuses to let him live and aims at his destruction. Jesus will not accept the common distinction between righteous indignation and unjustifiable anger. The disciple must be entirely innocent of anger, because anger is an offense against both God and his neighbor."
The way of a disciple is self-denial. Every time we utter a word out of respect for our neighbor we place our life above his. The angry word is a blow--struck to destroy. Open insults are worse because we are disgracing our brother in the eyes of the world. This causes our hearts to burn with hatred. We are passing judgment on him and this is murder. There will be judgment for it.
He who says he loves God and hates his brother is a liar.
We need to be reconciled with our brother.
The way of self-denial is the way of the cross.
"Anger is always an attack on the brother's life, for it refuses to let him live and aims at his destruction. Jesus will not accept the common distinction between righteous indignation and unjustifiable anger. The disciple must be entirely innocent of anger, because anger is an offense against both God and his neighbor."
The way of a disciple is self-denial. Every time we utter a word out of respect for our neighbor we place our life above his. The angry word is a blow--struck to destroy. Open insults are worse because we are disgracing our brother in the eyes of the world. This causes our hearts to burn with hatred. We are passing judgment on him and this is murder. There will be judgment for it.
He who says he loves God and hates his brother is a liar.
We need to be reconciled with our brother.
The way of self-denial is the way of the cross.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Ode to how we "poverty"
What is poverty?
We define it in terms of "stuff." People don't have "stuff" or access to "stuff." Even the Church defines it as "stuff" so we give "stuff" to the poor.
We think poverty is materialistic, so by giving people whatever material thing they need we can help fight poverty.
Besides being wrong and short-sighted it does not work. Many think they are truly fighting poverty, but they are maintaining it at best.
But, this is, after all, how we "poverty."
And, after all, scripture tells us that clearly "the poor will always be among us" which leaves us duty bound to do something. I mean, anything really. Just something. Even Jesus hung out with the poor people so I guess we should, too.
This is how we "poverty."
OR--if we are REALLY serious about poverty we may even take a mission exposure trip. You know, one of those trips that have good intentions, but are really just poverty tourism in another part of the world, or even worse, in our own community as a church group signs up to serve dinner in The Salvation Army homeless shelter once because, after all, that is doing something. We poverty tourism in our own community.
This is how we "poverty."
OR--if we are REALLY, REALLY serious and good Christians we will financially support someone or something else that is povertying in some way. Then, we can say, we have paid our poverty indulgences to God and can live in a clear conscience. Oh, Luther and the Church and the sale of indulgences! Nothing is new under the sun. We can even pre-pay our povertying.
Now, not all who do this are trying to short-change their Christian duty and I want to acknowledge that. There are many, if not most perhaps, who even financially support or serve in organizations because they truly want to get involved and to serve out of devotion to their Lord. This is great. They simply do not understand poverty.
Why?
Poverty is a mind-set. You can't just give "stuff" to change a way of thinking. If you give someone fifty food boxes with a smile and a "Jesus loves you" it may not mean much to them. It's not that those giving the boxes aren't sincere or that those receiving the boxes aren't grateful.
It's more than. It's feeling inferior to whoever is giving "stuff" because they hold the power and every time you "need" them you are reminded that you do not hold even the own power to care for yourself or your children.
It's feeling ashamed (although, some people adapt to this well and take on the mantle of entitlement).
It's feeling stuck and depressed in a cycle that you have no idea of how to climb out of or how you ended up there in the first place.
It's the lack of contact. Yes, you have received fifty food boxes from the same people but you know them and they know you just the same as the first time you came for a food box. Nothing has changed. It's like a dirty transaction. You don't know their story and they don't know yours--at least not much of it.
It's feeling humiliated.
It's not being treated with dignity.
It's social isolation.
It's voicelessness.
It's continual fear--the struggle.
It's hopelessness.
It is everything that is not Jesus. That is poverty.
To combat the mindset of poverty takes time. Lots of time. It is intentional relationship building. It is not doing for someone what they can do for themselves. It is realizing that giving someone a handout may do more harm than good. It's multifaceted and doesn't have easy answers.
It is easy to think, or perhaps even tell, someone that they should budget their money better. But it is an entirely different think to sit down with someone and teach them how to budget their money and then walk with them and hold them accountable to do it.
Relationships are key throughout the Bible. Our systems are bad because relationships are bad.
One writer says, "poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings."
People have a poverty of being. This includes the haves and the have nots, the Church and those outside the Church. We are mutually broken on both sides of the fence (why there even is an "us" and "them" is an entirely different topic--one that warrants its own merit some day).
We don't need to have "god complexes" (we are superior while they are inferior) to save people. We need to recognize that we are all journeying through life together. In fact, we do not need to save them. We need to focus on saving ourselves and, as an outflow of that communion with God, allow Him to lead us to relationships with others and let Him do the saving. We just get to be part of it.
This is why the poverty situation for some people does not change. She will still be coming for the food box. She's still broken. So are you. Until someone realizes it and does something about it, she will receive her smile and "Jesus loves you."
We define it in terms of "stuff." People don't have "stuff" or access to "stuff." Even the Church defines it as "stuff" so we give "stuff" to the poor.
We think poverty is materialistic, so by giving people whatever material thing they need we can help fight poverty.
Besides being wrong and short-sighted it does not work. Many think they are truly fighting poverty, but they are maintaining it at best.
But, this is, after all, how we "poverty."
And, after all, scripture tells us that clearly "the poor will always be among us" which leaves us duty bound to do something. I mean, anything really. Just something. Even Jesus hung out with the poor people so I guess we should, too.
This is how we "poverty."
OR--if we are REALLY serious about poverty we may even take a mission exposure trip. You know, one of those trips that have good intentions, but are really just poverty tourism in another part of the world, or even worse, in our own community as a church group signs up to serve dinner in The Salvation Army homeless shelter once because, after all, that is doing something. We poverty tourism in our own community.
This is how we "poverty."
OR--if we are REALLY, REALLY serious and good Christians we will financially support someone or something else that is povertying in some way. Then, we can say, we have paid our poverty indulgences to God and can live in a clear conscience. Oh, Luther and the Church and the sale of indulgences! Nothing is new under the sun. We can even pre-pay our povertying.
Now, not all who do this are trying to short-change their Christian duty and I want to acknowledge that. There are many, if not most perhaps, who even financially support or serve in organizations because they truly want to get involved and to serve out of devotion to their Lord. This is great. They simply do not understand poverty.
Why?
Poverty is a mind-set. You can't just give "stuff" to change a way of thinking. If you give someone fifty food boxes with a smile and a "Jesus loves you" it may not mean much to them. It's not that those giving the boxes aren't sincere or that those receiving the boxes aren't grateful.
It's more than. It's feeling inferior to whoever is giving "stuff" because they hold the power and every time you "need" them you are reminded that you do not hold even the own power to care for yourself or your children.
It's feeling ashamed (although, some people adapt to this well and take on the mantle of entitlement).
It's feeling stuck and depressed in a cycle that you have no idea of how to climb out of or how you ended up there in the first place.
It's the lack of contact. Yes, you have received fifty food boxes from the same people but you know them and they know you just the same as the first time you came for a food box. Nothing has changed. It's like a dirty transaction. You don't know their story and they don't know yours--at least not much of it.
It's feeling humiliated.
It's not being treated with dignity.
It's social isolation.
It's voicelessness.
It's continual fear--the struggle.
It's hopelessness.
It is everything that is not Jesus. That is poverty.
To combat the mindset of poverty takes time. Lots of time. It is intentional relationship building. It is not doing for someone what they can do for themselves. It is realizing that giving someone a handout may do more harm than good. It's multifaceted and doesn't have easy answers.
It is easy to think, or perhaps even tell, someone that they should budget their money better. But it is an entirely different think to sit down with someone and teach them how to budget their money and then walk with them and hold them accountable to do it.
Relationships are key throughout the Bible. Our systems are bad because relationships are bad.
One writer says, "poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings."
People have a poverty of being. This includes the haves and the have nots, the Church and those outside the Church. We are mutually broken on both sides of the fence (why there even is an "us" and "them" is an entirely different topic--one that warrants its own merit some day).
We don't need to have "god complexes" (we are superior while they are inferior) to save people. We need to recognize that we are all journeying through life together. In fact, we do not need to save them. We need to focus on saving ourselves and, as an outflow of that communion with God, allow Him to lead us to relationships with others and let Him do the saving. We just get to be part of it.
This is why the poverty situation for some people does not change. She will still be coming for the food box. She's still broken. So are you. Until someone realizes it and does something about it, she will receive her smile and "Jesus loves you."
Cost of Disipleship: The Righteousness of Christ
Which is our final authority, Christ or the law? To which are we bound?
Discipleship means adherence to Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ fulfills the law. Is one a disciple if they strictly adhere to the law?
No.
"Adherence to the law is something different from following Christ...it means that a legalistic adherence to His person is equally removed from the following of Him. It is, however, Jesus Himself who points to the law those to whom He has granted His whole promise and His whole fellowship. Because it is their LORD who does this, they are bound to acknowledge the law. The question inevitably arises, which is our final authority, Christ or the law? To which are we bound? Christ has said that no law was to be allowed to come between Him and His disciples. Now He tells us that to abandon the law would be to separate ourselves from Him. What exactly does He mean?"
Difference between old law and new law. New law because Christ binds his followers to it.
The law is required to enter the kingdom of heaven, for it is the indispensable condition of discipleship.
The law is not itself God, nor is God the law.
Only in personal communion with Him is the law fulfilled.
Jesus, the champion of the true law, must suffer at the hands of the champions of the false law.
The law matters. It matters to Jesus. It matters to me as a follower of Jesus. I must abide by the law.
"It is possible to teach the law without fulfilling it" (pg. 107)
Only the doer of the law can remain in communion with Jesus.
"Again, it is not enough to teach the law of Christ, it must be done" (pg.109)
Discipleship means adherence to Jesus Christ alone. Jesus Christ fulfills the law. Is one a disciple if they strictly adhere to the law?
No.
"Adherence to the law is something different from following Christ...it means that a legalistic adherence to His person is equally removed from the following of Him. It is, however, Jesus Himself who points to the law those to whom He has granted His whole promise and His whole fellowship. Because it is their LORD who does this, they are bound to acknowledge the law. The question inevitably arises, which is our final authority, Christ or the law? To which are we bound? Christ has said that no law was to be allowed to come between Him and His disciples. Now He tells us that to abandon the law would be to separate ourselves from Him. What exactly does He mean?"
Difference between old law and new law. New law because Christ binds his followers to it.
The law is required to enter the kingdom of heaven, for it is the indispensable condition of discipleship.
The law is not itself God, nor is God the law.
Only in personal communion with Him is the law fulfilled.
Jesus, the champion of the true law, must suffer at the hands of the champions of the false law.
The law matters. It matters to Jesus. It matters to me as a follower of Jesus. I must abide by the law.
"It is possible to teach the law without fulfilling it" (pg. 107)
Only the doer of the law can remain in communion with Jesus.
"Again, it is not enough to teach the law of Christ, it must be done" (pg.109)
Cost of Discipleship: The Visible Community
The disciples of Jesus are to be the salt of the earth.
Jesus calls from the salt of the earth.
Salt is the most "indispensable necessity of life."
Jesus calls his disciples to be the salt of the earth (not Himself) because He entrusts His work to them.
The disciple community must be faithful to the mission the call of Christ has given it. (Think of this in the context of our beloved Army... what happens when we are not faithful to the mission that the call of Christ has given us...?)
In the imperishability of salt we have we have a guarantee of the permanence of the divine community.
"Ye are the salt." Jesus does not say: "You must be the salt." It is not for the disciples to decide whether they will be the sale of the earth, for they are so whether they like it or not, they have been made salt by the call they have received.
The call of Christ makes those who response to it the salt of the earth.
Salt can lose its saltiness.
"The call of Jesus Christ means either that we are the salt of the earth, or else we are annihilated; either we follow the call or we are crushed between it. There is no question of a second chance."
The call makes disciples the light of the world.
This light is not an instrument that has been put into the disciples hands, such as their preaching. It is the disciples themselves.
The call can be denied. Extinguished. This happens due to fear, idols, false allegiances, deliberate conformity to the world, complacency, comfort on all levels, entitlement, pride...
Christ calls. We respond. We bear Him image.
The call keeps us.
Communion with Him matters.
Jesus calls from the salt of the earth.
Salt is the most "indispensable necessity of life."
Jesus calls his disciples to be the salt of the earth (not Himself) because He entrusts His work to them.
The disciple community must be faithful to the mission the call of Christ has given it. (Think of this in the context of our beloved Army... what happens when we are not faithful to the mission that the call of Christ has given us...?)
In the imperishability of salt we have we have a guarantee of the permanence of the divine community.
"Ye are the salt." Jesus does not say: "You must be the salt." It is not for the disciples to decide whether they will be the sale of the earth, for they are so whether they like it or not, they have been made salt by the call they have received.
The call of Christ makes those who response to it the salt of the earth.
Salt can lose its saltiness.
"The call of Jesus Christ means either that we are the salt of the earth, or else we are annihilated; either we follow the call or we are crushed between it. There is no question of a second chance."
The call makes disciples the light of the world.
This light is not an instrument that has been put into the disciples hands, such as their preaching. It is the disciples themselves.
The call can be denied. Extinguished. This happens due to fear, idols, false allegiances, deliberate conformity to the world, complacency, comfort on all levels, entitlement, pride...
Christ calls. We respond. We bear Him image.
The call keeps us.
Communion with Him matters.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Defining "Christian"
Given the traumatic political landscape and current sick and sad situation in our nation (racism in many facets, black injustice, gun violence, unwanted homelessness, food deserts, lack of access to services, etc, etc, etc), and of those who claim to be "Christians," I think it is time for those of us, who also call ourselves "Christians," to define what that actually means.
I am young, but I am supposing that at one point if one needed help in defining what "Christian" meant and did not even know they could go to the Bible (if they had access to one), that one could go to the "Christian Church." Here, the "Christians" within would be able to demonstrate what it meant to be a "Christian" and not just tell them what it meant to be a "Christian." These "Christian" churches wouldn't lord their wealth and privilege over those who looked and smelled differently than they, or, heaven forbid, those who were born from another country or spoke a different language. All would be welcome into the "Christian" church to explore, have dialogue, and to truly be loved. They would not be shut out and told "no" out of fear, and because of what the consensus of the "Christian" church feels is right is more important than what truly is right.
Or, in the event that there was no "Christian Church" that one could walk into (maybe their signage was bad? Maybe the non-Christian was not welcome? Maybe the non-Christian was a single mom working three jobs and caring for her children that should couldn't make it there on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening? Maybe the non-Christian didn't speak the "Christian" language of "The-Holy-Christian-Church," etc, etc, etc) then the "Christian" neighbor could help them with this. This "Christian" neighbor would be more than just nice, but would be loving and truly concerned for the well-being of this neighbor. This "Christian" would actually not just know the Bible from studying it (given that said "Christian" actually read and studied their Bible...), they would practice the words contained within and demonstrate it in their conduct of character in all facets of life. Perhaps this "Christian" neighbor would invite one into their home to share a meal, or to build relationship, rather than wait for their "Christian Church" (let's just call it "Six Flags over Jesus") to mail out a pretty, expensive flyer telling (inviting?) people that this one "Christian-themed" event is something that they do not want to miss (rather than, you know, the Jesus that "Christians" say they believe in).
Etc, etc.
The media and my social media feeds show me that "Christians" are good at defining what "Christian" is not, so passionately so that "Christians" employ things that are over and against what "Christianity" teaches. This includes "Christian-ized" hate speech, "Christian" anger, "Christian" this and "Christian" that ("Christian" businesses, a "Christian" chamber of commerce, etc, etc).
I think it is high time that the "Christians" define what "Christian" actually is, rather than what it is not. We all know what "Christian" is not right now. But, then, what is it? What is left once the fingers are done being pointed and the shouting has simmered and the political elections are over and people are denied access to the mental health services they so desperately need? Then, what? Anger?...wait, too late...we are already there. Violence?....nope, already there, too.... Death and destruction (the infamous "End Days" rhetoric)...what's left?
Bigger, fancier "Christian churches"? (Quote: "We pay the sheriff's office to direct traffic for us;" meanwhile, ignoring the fact that many DO NOT even have a car, or gas money, or a bus to TAKE THEM to "Christian Church"...but "Christian Church" may pick them up in a bus or van to bring them to the Church. Good luck getting a ride to get your light bill paid on Monday... from the "Christian Church" or the "Christians" who attend).
A "Christian" culture (ha...that one made me throw up a little) is left in the wake of "Christians"?
Nope, I've got it....smaller "Christian" churches with bi-vocational pastors struggling to make ends meet for their family as they pastor two churches and work a full-time job without even health benefits? Yup, that's what's left.
Even better yet--what's left is people who have no interest, care or concern for anything identified remotely as "Christian" because they've been cold and hungry, physically and spiritually, one too many times.
Ahh....now I'm on to something. The "Christians" have won. They have gotten what they want. Privilege, "God's favor," economic security...the untouchables have been pushed out because, after all, that's truly what "Christian" means--defending and protecting me and mine for the sake of saving "Christian" to return our "NATION TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY." I, mean, at least we still pray and then recite the pledge of allegiance, right? (ha!--and, hold on--what happened to the model that Jesus guy did or showed or whatever he did with those beautiful blue eyes he MUST have had because it is in all of iconic paintings of "Christian").
Unfortunately, this probably means "we" (whoever "we" are) can no longer call ourselves "Christians" as the term has been too lax to include to wide a variety of nonsense that truly is not the essence of "Christian." Just because things appear to be "Christian" does not mean it/they are. This includes people (political candidates included), institutions, or a brand of clothing or shoes (I know, I went there...paying more for it and wearing it because it is "Christian" is a good marketing scheme. Jesus didn't wear it and it only separates the privilege that some "Christians" have over others. Shop at a Salvation Army Family Store instead and tithe the rest of the money (albeit I'm biased to the Salvation Army)).
Maybe "Followers of the Way" or "Jesus Folk" or a cute, trendy, post-modern, hipster, millennial term that someone more hip than I could conjure up? Because, after all, that's truly what "Christian" is...hip and trendy...modern...
I am a ragamuffin follower of Jesus Christ. Screwed up with many imperfections and rough patches. But I love my LORD. I'm not empty, but being filled. I'm not standing still, but moving forward and making progress. I'm not the same that I used to be, nor do I want to be. But I DO NOT want to be labeled a "Christian."
This isn't an us versus them sort of thing. This hurts my heart. For my many friends who are not "Christians," I, personally, am so very sorry. I do not contain the words to express how mortified I am within my being on so many levels for what "Christians" and the "Christian Church" has done and will probably continue to do. I have purposely not included "Christian" scripture in this post because, after all, even that, too, has been misinterpreted as "Christian."
I am young, but I am supposing that at one point if one needed help in defining what "Christian" meant and did not even know they could go to the Bible (if they had access to one), that one could go to the "Christian Church." Here, the "Christians" within would be able to demonstrate what it meant to be a "Christian" and not just tell them what it meant to be a "Christian." These "Christian" churches wouldn't lord their wealth and privilege over those who looked and smelled differently than they, or, heaven forbid, those who were born from another country or spoke a different language. All would be welcome into the "Christian" church to explore, have dialogue, and to truly be loved. They would not be shut out and told "no" out of fear, and because of what the consensus of the "Christian" church feels is right is more important than what truly is right.
Or, in the event that there was no "Christian Church" that one could walk into (maybe their signage was bad? Maybe the non-Christian was not welcome? Maybe the non-Christian was a single mom working three jobs and caring for her children that should couldn't make it there on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening? Maybe the non-Christian didn't speak the "Christian" language of "The-Holy-Christian-Church," etc, etc, etc) then the "Christian" neighbor could help them with this. This "Christian" neighbor would be more than just nice, but would be loving and truly concerned for the well-being of this neighbor. This "Christian" would actually not just know the Bible from studying it (given that said "Christian" actually read and studied their Bible...), they would practice the words contained within and demonstrate it in their conduct of character in all facets of life. Perhaps this "Christian" neighbor would invite one into their home to share a meal, or to build relationship, rather than wait for their "Christian Church" (let's just call it "Six Flags over Jesus") to mail out a pretty, expensive flyer telling (inviting?) people that this one "Christian-themed" event is something that they do not want to miss (rather than, you know, the Jesus that "Christians" say they believe in).
Etc, etc.
The media and my social media feeds show me that "Christians" are good at defining what "Christian" is not, so passionately so that "Christians" employ things that are over and against what "Christianity" teaches. This includes "Christian-ized" hate speech, "Christian" anger, "Christian" this and "Christian" that ("Christian" businesses, a "Christian" chamber of commerce, etc, etc).
I think it is high time that the "Christians" define what "Christian" actually is, rather than what it is not. We all know what "Christian" is not right now. But, then, what is it? What is left once the fingers are done being pointed and the shouting has simmered and the political elections are over and people are denied access to the mental health services they so desperately need? Then, what? Anger?...wait, too late...we are already there. Violence?....nope, already there, too.... Death and destruction (the infamous "End Days" rhetoric)...what's left?
Bigger, fancier "Christian churches"? (Quote: "We pay the sheriff's office to direct traffic for us;" meanwhile, ignoring the fact that many DO NOT even have a car, or gas money, or a bus to TAKE THEM to "Christian Church"...but "Christian Church" may pick them up in a bus or van to bring them to the Church. Good luck getting a ride to get your light bill paid on Monday... from the "Christian Church" or the "Christians" who attend).
A "Christian" culture (ha...that one made me throw up a little) is left in the wake of "Christians"?
Nope, I've got it....smaller "Christian" churches with bi-vocational pastors struggling to make ends meet for their family as they pastor two churches and work a full-time job without even health benefits? Yup, that's what's left.
Even better yet--what's left is people who have no interest, care or concern for anything identified remotely as "Christian" because they've been cold and hungry, physically and spiritually, one too many times.
Ahh....now I'm on to something. The "Christians" have won. They have gotten what they want. Privilege, "God's favor," economic security...the untouchables have been pushed out because, after all, that's truly what "Christian" means--defending and protecting me and mine for the sake of saving "Christian" to return our "NATION TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY." I, mean, at least we still pray and then recite the pledge of allegiance, right? (ha!--and, hold on--what happened to the model that Jesus guy did or showed or whatever he did with those beautiful blue eyes he MUST have had because it is in all of iconic paintings of "Christian").
Unfortunately, this probably means "we" (whoever "we" are) can no longer call ourselves "Christians" as the term has been too lax to include to wide a variety of nonsense that truly is not the essence of "Christian." Just because things appear to be "Christian" does not mean it/they are. This includes people (political candidates included), institutions, or a brand of clothing or shoes (I know, I went there...paying more for it and wearing it because it is "Christian" is a good marketing scheme. Jesus didn't wear it and it only separates the privilege that some "Christians" have over others. Shop at a Salvation Army Family Store instead and tithe the rest of the money (albeit I'm biased to the Salvation Army)).
Maybe "Followers of the Way" or "Jesus Folk" or a cute, trendy, post-modern, hipster, millennial term that someone more hip than I could conjure up? Because, after all, that's truly what "Christian" is...hip and trendy...modern...
I am a ragamuffin follower of Jesus Christ. Screwed up with many imperfections and rough patches. But I love my LORD. I'm not empty, but being filled. I'm not standing still, but moving forward and making progress. I'm not the same that I used to be, nor do I want to be. But I DO NOT want to be labeled a "Christian."
This isn't an us versus them sort of thing. This hurts my heart. For my many friends who are not "Christians," I, personally, am so very sorry. I do not contain the words to express how mortified I am within my being on so many levels for what "Christians" and the "Christian Church" has done and will probably continue to do. I have purposely not included "Christian" scripture in this post because, after all, even that, too, has been misinterpreted as "Christian."
Sunday, February 21, 2016
The Cost of Discipleship: The Beatitudes
Jesus is on the mountain. The disciples are there separate from the people they formerly, and so comfortably, belonged to. Once they were called out by Jesus and responded, they had a new identity apart from the crowd.
They were ordinary crowd dwellers until the call.
The disciples staring at the people in the face; the people staring at the disciples in the face. Awkward in some ways, yet definitely different than their pre-Jesus experience.
The disciples were still a part of the people, but Jesus sees them differently, even though they may not see themselves as distinctly different yet. "But disciples and people are one, for they are all members of the Church which is called of God."
"They have only Hi, and with Him they have nothing, literally nothing in the world, but everything with and through God."
His rejection is theirs. They now belong together.
These "called out" ones are blessed because the call and promise;
they are poor because they have no security, no possessions to call their own, not even a foot of earth to call their home, no earthly society to claim their absolute allegiance. No spiritual power, experience or knowledge to afford them consolation or security;
For His sake they have lost all.
(* Note: The Anti-Christ also calls the poor blessed, but for quite a different reason, not for the sake of the cross, which embraces all poverty and transforms it into a source of blessing...he raises a smoke screen of political and social ideology. He may call it Christian, but that only makes him still a more dangerous enemy)
they are mourning because they are refusing to be in tune with the world or to accommodate oneself to its standards; mourning for the world, for its guilt, its fate and its fortune;
(The gulf is widened more between the disciples and the people with each beatitude)
they are meek because renounce every right of their own to live for the sake of Jesus Christ. They show by every word and gesture that they do not belong to this earth;
they hunger and thirst after righteousness as they renounce their own righteousness because Jesus did, too;
they are merciful because they renounced their own dignity as they take upon themselves the distress and humiliation and sin of others willingly;
they are pure in heart because they have surrendered their hearts completely to Jesus so that He may reign in them (pure hearts see God);
they are peacemakers because they have been called to peace as children of God. They must not only have peace, but must also make peace. Peace was made upon the cross.
they are persecuted because of the sake of Christ.
They were ordinary crowd dwellers until the call.
The disciples staring at the people in the face; the people staring at the disciples in the face. Awkward in some ways, yet definitely different than their pre-Jesus experience.
The disciples were still a part of the people, but Jesus sees them differently, even though they may not see themselves as distinctly different yet. "But disciples and people are one, for they are all members of the Church which is called of God."
"They have only Hi, and with Him they have nothing, literally nothing in the world, but everything with and through God."
His rejection is theirs. They now belong together.
These "called out" ones are blessed because the call and promise;
they are poor because they have no security, no possessions to call their own, not even a foot of earth to call their home, no earthly society to claim their absolute allegiance. No spiritual power, experience or knowledge to afford them consolation or security;
For His sake they have lost all.
(* Note: The Anti-Christ also calls the poor blessed, but for quite a different reason, not for the sake of the cross, which embraces all poverty and transforms it into a source of blessing...he raises a smoke screen of political and social ideology. He may call it Christian, but that only makes him still a more dangerous enemy)
they are mourning because they are refusing to be in tune with the world or to accommodate oneself to its standards; mourning for the world, for its guilt, its fate and its fortune;
(The gulf is widened more between the disciples and the people with each beatitude)
they are meek because renounce every right of their own to live for the sake of Jesus Christ. They show by every word and gesture that they do not belong to this earth;
they hunger and thirst after righteousness as they renounce their own righteousness because Jesus did, too;
they are merciful because they renounced their own dignity as they take upon themselves the distress and humiliation and sin of others willingly;
they are pure in heart because they have surrendered their hearts completely to Jesus so that He may reign in them (pure hearts see God);
they are peacemakers because they have been called to peace as children of God. They must not only have peace, but must also make peace. Peace was made upon the cross.
they are persecuted because of the sake of Christ.
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