Blessed to be a blessing RUMC 10/26/14

Blessed to be a blessing

RUMC 10/26/14

The top of my head is sore.

I’ve spent all week studying the beatitudes and I feel like I have been standing on my head looking at the world.

 Up to this point in THE STORY Jesus has really been pretty tame. He has said some odd things, but the Sermon on the Mount is really the beginning of Jesus’ radical upside-down theology of redemption and revolution.

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 The more I studied this week, the more I asked which way is up? Let me be clear, it is not Jesus’ teachings that are upside-down. It is our world. Because of sin, creation is turned all topsy-turvy from what God created it to be, and Jesus came to make things right again.

In fact, as I studied, I discovered that the more I asked the question the more convoluted the answer became. Because, not only do the beatitudes turn the world upside-down, or right side up if you will. I had to ask if maybe I have even been looking at the beatitudes upside-down.

I finally came to the very firm conclusion that everything is upside- wrong side-inside- outside- down. Or is it up? Or is it out?

Let me try to explain without making your head hurt.

First, we have to consider the context of the beatitudes. Matthew chapter 5 says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them.”

I have always assumed that the beatitudes were addressed to the disciples. I have always assumed they were for kingdom “insiders.” Look at the context however, “Jesus saw the crowds.” These are not the insiders. These are the outsiders. These are the people who are still searching. These are not the disciples. Now Matthew does say that the disciples came to him and he began to teach. We can’t forget, however, that Jesus’ audience was very diverse.

Just like standing up here on Sunday morning… do I talk to the regular attenders, the family that comes once a year, the guest, the leaders, the followers? My answer is yes, to all of those. I suspect Jesus was talking to all of the people who were present, but we can’t assume that they were all faithful followers of Jesus.

I began to ask myself, what would an outsider hear when they heard the beatitudes? What would someone hear if this was the first time they heard Jesus speak?

•             When they heard “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” They might have heard, “Hey this kingdom isn’t just for the Pharisees, it’s for us normal folks like us.”

•             When they heard “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” They might have heard, “When life gets the best of me and I feel completely overwhelmed, there is a place of comfort and hope in Jesus’ kingdom.”

•             When they heard “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” They might have heard, that even if they weren’t the kind of person that stands up for their self, they have an advocate in Jesus.

•             When they heard “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” They might have heard, “Even if I am broken by injustice, I am welcome in this kingdom, where I will find justice.”

•             When they heard “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” They might have heard, “If I have a soft heart and others sometimes take advantage of me, I can be safe in this kingdom.”

•             When they heard “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” They might have heard, “This kingdom is not like the world, where the best liar seems to win the election.”

•             When they heard “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” They might have heard, “This kingdom does not belong to the warrior and the conquering emperor, it belongs to those of us who just want to live in peace.”

•             When they heard “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” They might have heard, “Even if your convictions sometimes get you in trouble, you will be OK in this kingdom.”

The beatitudes can be heard as a proclamation of grace saying, that no human condition, no matter how hopeless it may appear; no matter how despised by the world; no matter how ‘unsuccessful’ or insignificant others may deem it; disqualifies anyone from God’s grace in Christ. God’s blessings are yours in Jesus no matter who you are!

See what I mean about my head hurting? If we turn the beatitudes inside out, we see them from a whole different perspective and realize how upside-down our world really is.

Seen this way, the Beatitudes are pronouncements of pure grace. Like other great passages, such as Mary’s Magnificat, which we talked about a few weeks ago, they announce the inbreaking of God’s upside-down Kingdom. God is not bound by the current, fallen, corrupt value system that expects him to shower blessings on rich, successful, and powerful people, on “worthy ones” who are universally recognized and applauded by the world.

Those who follow Jesus may participate in this new creation reality now, no matter what their present condition. God’s grace is available to all; to everyone! All are welcome. All may come. The blessings are here for all of us in Jesus.

I love that… because that takes the beatitudes out of the realm of a to-do list. And makes them a to-da list, describing the wonderful magic of the kingdom of God.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the beatitudes don’t have anything to say to good church folk. I think this is a both //and kind of situation. Jesus’ words heard by the crowds are a proclamation of grace. Jesus’ words heard by the disciples are words of transformation.

•             “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a taxman. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ’Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this taxman. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ "Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ’God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’ “Jesus commented, "This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself."

Luke 18:10-14 (MSG) That’s what it means when Jesus says, Blessed are the poor in spirit

•             “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Here Jesus is speaking about those who mourn over their sin. This is a Godly sorrow that produces repentance and leads to salvation. Do you remember the story of King David? How he sinned? He had an affair with Bathsheba, which was wrong in the first place, but in order to cover it up he had Bathsheba’s husband killed. David felt sorrow, remorse, guilt, and shame for what he had done. He mourned over his sin. We read about David’s sin grief in Psalm 51.

“(God) you’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair.” Psalms 51:4 (MSG)

David is an example of one who mourns, “Blessed are those who mourn,”

•             “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Here Jesus is calling us to be teachable. Don’t think that you know everything there is to know. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Matthew 11:29 (KJV)

We need to live our lives with an attitude that allows the Holy Spirit to guide us as we deal with those around us. Blessed are the meek.

•             “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

God is righteous and we need to have the same desires that He has. When something is wicked, we need to call it wicked. When something is sinful, we need to call it sinful. When something is pure and holy, we need to hold on to it. We need to have a burning desire for it. We need to study it and live it. Our driving passion – our driving hunger – needs to be on those things that are pleasing to God. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”

•             “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

We need an attitude of MERCY.

Forgiveness and mercy are what God demonstrates to the undeserving sinner. That undeserving sinner is us. Did you know that the manner in which you forgive people is the manner in which you will be forgiven? Look at what it says in The Lord’s prayer:

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

Matthew 6:12 (NKJV) “Blessed are the merciful”

•             “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

We need an attitude of PURITY.

The Greek word for “pure” has a number of interesting facets.

o             It was used for dirty clothes that had been washed clean.

o             It was used to describe grain and flour that had been carefully sifted – cleansed of all impurities.

o             It was used when describing milk or wine that had not been mixed with any other liquid. It is not diluted or watered down. It was pure.

So this beatitude could be translated, “Blessed is the man who is genuine in heart, who is authentic, who is not a phony, because such a man will see God.”

2 Timothy says, “Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 (HCSB) That is what it means to be pure in heart

•             “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

We need an attitude of PEACEMAKING.

God wants us to be a part of the solution, not the PROBLEM.

There are 2 kinds of people in this world: “thermostat” people and “thermometer” people. A thermometer reflects the climate of the room. If the room is cold, it’s cold. If the room is hot, it’s hot.

But a thermostat can change the climate of the room. By its setting, a thermostat can change a cold room into one that is warm, or a hot room into one that is cool. And a peacemaker is a thermostat person. A peacemaker can change the climate of the room when he or she walks in. Have you ever seen that happen?

God wants peacemakers, thermostats, change agents; in His church, in the workplace, and out in the world.

Jesus was a peacemaker. He changes things. He has called us to be peacemakers too. Blessed are the peacemakers,

•             “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

We need an attitude of ENDURANCE.

Folks we have all lived long enough in this world to know that whatever you do - you will be criticized. Even if you do nothing – you will be criticized and persecuted. I don’t know about you – but I would rather be criticized for doing the right thing then for doing the wrong thing. I don’t mind being called a fool for following God. It’s better than the alternative. “Blessed are those who are persecuted

Do you see how the beatitudes turn everything upside down? It turns the world’s expectations upside down. It turns the believer’s lives upside down. Or do I mean right side up?

 The beatitudes are a picture of the kingdom of God. Righting the upside-down, turning over expectations and showing us what the world looks like when it is right side up.

The beatitudes are a picture of the kingdom of God. If you stand on the outside of the kingdom, they are words of grace and hope, that you too might be part of this great kingdom. If you stand on the inside of the kingdom, they are a description of the kingdom in which we live, and a challenge to live into the glory of that kingdom.

To borrow a phrase from Jesus “Let those who have ears, hear”

Hear the word of grace and hope from one side of the beatitudes. And you will be accepted by God, loved by God, forgiven by God, blessed by God

Hear the word of challenge and accountability from the other side of the  beatitudes and you will be strengthened by God, shaped by God, transformed by God, and by God you will be a blessing to all those around you.

 Blessed to be a blessing. Blessed to be a blessing. That is what the beatitudes are about. Blessed to be a blessing. Go and bless someone.