Do not be a Jerk

In the Beatitudes we are told that we are blessed when we are persecuted for pursuing righteousness. Further to this, we are blessed “when people revile you, persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on his account.” This is in keeping with other comments that Jesus makes through the Gospels. “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15.18)

          We do need to be cautious in using this as a metric as to whether we are following Christ and pursuing righteousness. It is far too easy to ascribe people’s reaction to us as being the result of being “holy.” Maybe, we are just being jerks. In fact, when those around us ‘revile’ us we might want to stop and check as to the cause.

          We also might want to be aware from where this ‘persecution’ comes. When we consider who we follow, the example he set, it was from within the religious organizations that his persecution came. If we are loved and accepted within our congregation while being despised in the world, then we may want to consider why. (That might be another post.)

          I have had two dinners ruined by religious pontification. The first was by a woman who decided to go on at length as to what Jesus had done for her. The second was by an atheist who decided to hold court as to the fallacy of God. Both were less than appreciated by the audience. In the first example, those at the dinner were fairly devote Christians. The second was to a group of people simply enjoying Christmas dinner.

          We are in the midst of what is called the “Great Unchurching.” We have seen unprecedented declines in those who attend church. We have seen similar growth in those who state they are atheist, agnostic, or are just spiritual (the religiously unaffiliated.) I might be alone in being a Christian that is not distressed by this trend. Our faith has never been intended to be a popularity contest. While we have been commissioned to go and make disciples of all the world, it was never intended that our success lies within our popularity.

          We carry a message that comes in two parts. The first part is that all is not well with the world. That the world, is not a good place. Further, all is not well with each of us. As Paul, the apostle says, ‘I do that which I do not want to do, and do not do that which I want.’ Most of us know this about ourselves.

          As the Church has sought increasing political power and have entered the ‘culture wars’ our message has become skewed and toxic. It seems to be that we emphasis those sins we find repugnant while minimizing those sins we enjoy. We tried to engage the world without being responsive to the world. Of the youth that have left the church the most striking reason was put this way. “The Church answers questions we have not asked.”

          The second part of the message that is that Christ offers us salvation. The message of the redemption offered by Christ is obscured through the first part of our message. We have stressed how wrong have people have it to the exclusion of the grace of God that is offering. It is hard to hear “God loves you” when it is drowned out by our yelling “you are sinful!” We forget that we, all of us, are in the same boat.

          I am not advocating ‘domesticating the Gospel.’ Both parts of the message are to be carried. If there was an action that I would be advocating, it is that we collectively be quiet on the public stage. Our aims and goals are not accomplished through politics. I am advocating a personal engagement.

          The Gospel is best delivered through our personal connections with others. We are the ones who carry the Gospel; thus it might be an idea if we live our lives in this fashion. I would add that the Gospel also compels us to be humble, kind, compassionate, and sincere. Those qualities that are called for in the Beatitudes.

          I think the Beatitudes can be summed up in one sentiment. Do not be a Jerk.

 Anyway, that is my opinion.