We have been dwelling on the beatitudes all week, and we’re not done yet. Take time to read slowly and meditatively through Luke’s version of the beatitudes (Luke 6:17-26). Then read Dallas Willard’s thoughts on the beatitudes, quoted below from his book The Divine Conspiracy and then do the exercises below:
“Thus, by proclaiming blessed those who in the human order are thought hopeless, and by pronouncing woes over those human being regarded as well off, Jesus opens the kingdom of the heavens to everyone. [...] In general, many of those thought blessed or “first” in human terms are miserable or “last” in God’s terms, and many of those regarded as cursed or “last” in human terms may well be blessed or “first” in God’s terms, as they rely on the kingdom of Jesus. Many, but not necessarily all. The beatitudes are lists of human “lasts” who, at the individualized touch of the heavens become divine “firsts.” The gospel of the kingdom is that no one is beyond beatitude, because the rule of God from the heavens is available to all. Everyone can reach it, and it can reach everyone. We respond appropriately to the beatitudes of Jesus by living as if this were so, as it concerns others and as it concerns ourselves.[...]
Even the moral disasters will be received by God as they come to rely on Jesus, count on him, and make him their companion in his kingdom. Murderers and child-molesters. The brutal and the bigoted. Drug lords and pornographers. War criminals and sadists. Terrorists. The perverted and the filthy and the filthy rich. [...]
If I, as a recovering sinner myself,accept Jesus’ good news, I can go to the mass murderer and say, “You can be blessed in the kingdom of the heavens. There is forgiveness that knows no limits.” To the pederast and the perpetrator of incest. To the worshiper of Satan. To those who rob the aged and the weak. To the cheat and the liar, the bloodsucker and the vengeful: Blessed! Blessed! Blessed! As they fless into the arms of The Kingdom Among Us.
These are God’s grubby people. In their midst a Corrie Ten Boom takes the hand of the Nazi who killed her family members. The scene is strictly not of this earth. Any spiritually healthy congregation of believers in Jesus will more or less look like these “brands plucked from the burning.” If the group is totally nice, that is a sure sign something has gone wrong. For here are the foolish, weak, lowly, and despised of this world, whom God has chosen to cancel out the humanly great (1 Cor 1:26-31; 6).” (Willard, Divine Conspiracy, 119-125)
- Who do you think has the hardest time accepting Jesus’ message of the Kingdom? Who has the most obstacles to overcome?
- Who do you tend to exclude from the Kingdom? What kind of people do you have the hardest time embracing or thinking of as people God might love? Why?
- Stop now and pray for those people. Ask God to give you his heart for them.
I think people who are rich and have ‘everything’ in a worldly sense may have difficulties at times feeling their need for God. At the same time, I think it is really hard for people who have a lot of guilt in their lives to feel like God will accept and forgive them. Also, people who are religious and have been ‘around God’ much of their whole lives may have a hard time really understanding the gospel.
I think it is easiest for me to be around people who are live me socio-economically, educationally, etc., however, I do think that in and itself is exclusionary. I do see how God loves these ‘other people,’ but I think I need more exposure so I can truly love them too.
Wendy, you make a very good point about the need to be exposed to more people. I’ve often found that being around those I’ve formerly judged results in having a new love for them. I think stretching ourselves in this way is part of a Christian’s way of life.
Thanks for commenting!