Saturday, May 26, 2012

Poverty is the Goal: Beatitudes Part 1 (Matthew 5)


red candle burning

Matthew 5

The Beatitudes

A crowd eagerly fills the hillside hoping to hear this new teacher--but there's something different about him—he has the power to heal, starting with their hearts. The mass mood turns ecstatic as the word gets around: he might address the crowd. His figure rises to a high place carved into the hill. He takes his seat like a rabbi about to teach, with all the authority of a king declaring a change of law. He is the king of an invisible kingdom soon coming, and if these people are to bear his royal crest upon their hearts they must follow His statutes.

The Beatitudes are not lovely sayings to read when the inclination strikes, they are the statutes of Christ's Kingdom, what every Christian is (impossibly) to supposed to be. When read in this context, the believer understands why they must rely heavily upon the Holy Spirit, in this life especially.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

First off, the word “blessed,” as it is used here, refers to an internal satisfaction, not necessarily a physical gift or provision: free cars, boats, planes, jewels, coffee but the sense of a “free” Heaven. This is our major frustration with faith and religion at large isn't it: how the physical and spiritual intersect? How our relationship with God effects life as we live it?

Jesus shows us how we except the truth of the Gospel, His work done on the cross for us—recognize we're spiritually bankrupt.

A well-loved pastor is fond of saying that most folks like to consider themselves “spiritually middle-class,” admitting they can't be considered rich because of some 'awful' past sin, but won't acknowledge their utter depravity...they only have 'character flaws'. Though the truth is, we are all corrupt.

Our spiritual life is a home in which Christ is invited or excluded. When He sits at your table and asks: “What do you have to offer me,” so often, we respond foolishly, showing off. “Oh Lord, check out my vast Christian music collection, look at my lengthy prayers and Bible readings, oh, oh, and let's not forget that I don't drink, smoke or engage in premarital sex.” These may be good things, but incapable of making us right before God. They're just filthy rags we've sprayed with perfume (Isaiah 64:6), an unfit gift for a king.

The idea of somehow evening the score with God, creates a multitude of evils for the believer. Take for example, the pastor or ministry leader, according to the heresy of self-justification, they have somehow ascended the slippery ladder of morality that others are 'too weak' to grab a hold of. In their mind, sinning is a near impossibility (for a 'CEO-level Christian,' like themselves), thus building their taste for it, underneath the gloss of superiority. It becomes desirous and forbidden fruit. Being at the top becomes so lonely,to choices seem to either alienate one's self or...take the dive.

Matthew 5:3 begs us to be honest with Jesus, that we have nothing to offer the One who created Heaven and Earth, that we are in need of His complete support.

Questions:

  1. What do you need Jesus for daily?
  2. What does being spiritually middle class look like in your life?
  3. How can you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit more?

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