Monday, July 13, 2009

MANIFESTO- Week 4

Many of us are familiar with the name Leo Tolstoy, most notably the masterpieces, War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. But to be honest, few of are probably familiar with his books. I must confess, I only read the abridged version of War and Peace when it was assigned to me in college- reading the whole book is out of my pay scale. Tolstoy is remembered and studied as one of the greatest novelists of all time, period. And what is so fascinating to so many was his radical conversion to Christianity. That conversion was so dramatic that Tolstoy became known as a Christian literalist- one who literally tried to keep and live our the teachings of Jesus. This lead to his stance against violence, embracing pacifism, giving away his wealth, becoming an wandering ascetic at the end of his life, and even to embrace the title of a “Christian anarchist.”

Here’s what so important for us- no work had more effect on Tolstoy’s life and belief more than the very text we are studying, Matthew 5-7, the sermon on the mount, or what we are calling our Christian MANIFESTO. If one of the greatest minds in the world thought these were the greatest words every written, then we might want to consider them. In his last great novel, Resurrection, published in 1900, Tolstoy tells the story of Prince Nekhlyudov, who is openly recognized as a a portrait of himself. Towards the end of the novel Nekhlyudov re-reads the sermon on the mount, and his life is forever changed. For in the words of the sermon he finds not exaggerated and impossible demands, but rather, a new order of human life, attained for us in Jesus Christ, and attainable by us when our lives are in Jesus Christ. He writes...

“That night an entirely new life began for Nekhlyudov, not so much because he had entered into new conditions of life but because everything that happened to him from that time on was endowed with an entirely different meaning for him. How this new chapter of his life will end, the future will show.”

That is what I am praying will happen to all of us- a conversion of the same magnitude of Prince Nekhlyudov. That our lives would be endowed with an entirely new meaning and purpose and hope for the future because of what Jesus offers us and teaches us. Tolstoy got what Jesus was offering to us- not just a new list of rules, not just new conditions, but an entirely new way to live. A way of life that STARTS by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. A way of life that continues in obedience to Jesus Christ.

Let me state it this way- the life and faith described in the MANIFESTO is on one level not attainable, but neither is it unattainable. Yeah, I just contradicted myself. First, when we come to the demands of this sermon, love your enemy, do not look on a woman lustfully, and so on, we have to conclude, that we can’t measure up. We can’t do this perfectly. We will find the moral demands of the message so demanding that we throw up our arms in despair. Many have done just this when trying to fulfill the sermon on their own strength. It can lead to defeat, despair and depression.

And it’s almost like in that moment of despair the light bulb turns on and we say oh, that’s the point- we can’t, Jesus can. I’m not perfect, Jesus is. Jesus can do this. That’s why Jesus says first, come to me, then I will help you live this way. I will be with you every step of the way as you begin a life-long journey to live like this. Jesus is the source of our life and faith, the Sermon is course of our life in Jesus.

Jesus is the source, the sermon is the course. Say that with me...

Jesus is the source of life. He is he living Word the bible says, he shows us God, he opens the door to a relationship with God. When Tolstoy got this, it changed everything, it was like a light turned on and everything from that day was filled with new meaning and purpose and power. His whole perspective had changed to a Kingdom of heaven perspective. Countless other men and women have experienced this transformation. For some its radical, it’s almost instantaneous. For others, we are in it for the long haul, it’s one step, one degree, one bit at a time. But when it happens, things are different.

That’s why it so important to keep in the flow of the MANIFESTO and to embrace this a a progression. After today we are deep into the MANIFESTO, so this is the last time until the end that I’m going to be doing a recap. Now this is easy to remember:

First, the invitation to be a part of the kingdom of heaven.
Then the ironic blessings of the kingdom of heaven.
Then the influence of the the kingdom of heaven.

Just before chapter 5, Jesus begins his public ministry and it is characterized by one big idea- “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repent, turn, open your eyes, open your ears, open your mind, the kingdom of heaven is standing right in front of you, so close you can touch it. Jesus is saying- I am the source- turn to me, come to me, and you actually come into a new way of being, a new life. It’s life in me. It’s where I rule and reign. It’s the kingdom of heaven! That’s what it means to repent and put our faith in Jesus. We come to him as the source.

People came to him, and kingdom things happened in their lives- healing, hope, wholeness, freedom. So the followed him, and then he began to teach them, Matthew 5:1-2 they went up the mountain, Jesus sat and began to teach, the first thing he teaches- who is blessed? The great news- it has nothing to do with your age, race, sex, economic demographic, IQ, profession, or lack of any profession. In fact, who is blessed- it’s just about everybody you didn’t expect. It’s everyone that the world says are losers. It’s everyone who can say, Jesus, you are the source. The blessed announcements are amazing. LEARN THESE...

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Get these ironic blessing of the kingdom in you so that your perception of the blessed life can be endowed with new meaning!

Then, third, the influence of the kingdom of heaven- it’s what we talked about last week- it’s like salt and light. It’s like salt that gets in us and saves us from rot and flavors us for life. It’s light light that goes our from our lives, revealing the kingdom, revealing life, revealing Jesus. It’s you. When Jesus gets into you and saves you, you become part of his saving mission to get into people lives. WHen Jesus gets into you, you become light to shine in all the dark places of our world. It’s amazing what Jesus offers us here. He says you blessed freaks and geeks, you blessed people of mine, you are going to be the ones to change the world. You will change the world, but first, you must understand that I am the source. I am the source of the kingdom of heaven.

Now, Jesus is gonna get into it. Invitation- Ironic blessings- Influence. Now the Importance of the law as it will show us the course of life. Matthew 5:17-20...

17"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

What Jesus has said is so radical, so transformative, so paradigm shifting that it runs an immediate and present risk. The risk of missing the whole point. Life is like that sometimes- we call it missing the forest for the trees. We have a way of getting wrapped up into the bit and pieces sometimes, and incredibly, we can then miss the whole point. Jesus knows this. He knows that what he has done by offering an open invitation to experience the kingdom of heaven, to become a part of the kingdom of heaven, can be radically misunderstood. So he wants to make two things very clear to us- his relationship to the law and prophets (17-18), and our relationship to the law and prophets (19-20).

What is Jesus’ relationship to the law- he is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. the law showed the people how to live in a relationship with God. The prophets told of the day when God would come in the flesh to redeem his people. This is what Jesus does. He is the fulfillment of the law in that he lived by the law without fault or failure. People looked at jesus, they said his life looks very different than ours. They concluded, that because they were trying to follow the law that jesus must have abandoned the law of God. But it was just the opposite- jesus was saying my life looks different from you NOT because I don;t do the law. Rather, it’s because I’m the only one whose truly keeping the law. I’m the one fulfilling the law perfectly, unlike anyone else ever has or could. Thus, he is the fulfillment of the prophets- the promise that God would send his messiah, his son, the one who would offer us salvation and offer us life.

What is our relationship to the law and the prophets? When we are in a relationship with Jesus, then by default we have some relationship now with the law and prophets. The law and prophets still teach us the course of a life in relationship with God, and with our neighbors. What is our big quote for the day- Jesus is the source, his message is the course.

Many of the people listening to Jesus had gotten so wrapped up in the trees, that they forgot the forest. One group in particular, the Pharisees, got so wrapped up in the letters of the law that they began to add their own laws to make sure they kept the laws. They lost the spirit of the law Jesus would say later in his ministry. They forgot the forest.

What is the forest- it’s remember the whole point and purpose of the law. The law was given to the people of God to guide them in how to live in relationship with God. Let’s go way back to the start- Remember, the people were enslaved. They cried out to God for freedom, for salvation, for deliverance. God heard their cry and called Moses to lead them into the promised land. They got to the promised land. The people cried out again, feed us, give us water, teach us how to live, and so God called Moses to Mount Sinai, and he gave him the first laws, the ten commandments as we call them.

What is the context now of the law, what is the forest? - it is given by the God who has established his love for his people and his desire to be in a relationship with them. How do the commands start- I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, you shall have no other gods before me. God is saying understand this- I have come into a relationship with you. You are my people. I am your God. I saved you from slavery. I’ve provided for all your needs. You’ve cried out for me to tell you what to do, how to live, how to have this relationship with me. And I’ve listened. First law- real simple- no other gods. Just be faithful to me. Be faithful to our relationship.

It’s all about relationship. The law is given to those in relationship with God. In the same way that we give our own laws to those with whom we are in relationship. I have rules for my children. Why? Because they are my children. Because I Iove them. I give them rules not to be an oppressive killjoy, though they sometimes think I am. I give them laws because they are my kids and I love them more than I love myself. I make them eat right and go to bed because I love them. I make them learn to read because I love them. I give them chores to do because I love them.

What happens when they break the rules? Do they cease being my children? No. Do I love them a less? Maybe, I mean my love is unconditional, but it can be temperamental. But really, I don’t stop loving them. They are my kids. I am their father. When they break the rules they don’t stop being my kids. They’re just not living into the relationship in the best way.

Jesus tells us, don’t lose the forest for the trees, but also, don’t lose the trees for the forest. I’m not destroying the law, I’m fulfilling the law. And through me, I want you to live by the law as well. In fact, I’m going to explain and tighten up the spirit of the law now.

We need to see the parallel here: God gave Moses and the people the law after he had established his relationship with them. he had proven his love, proven his power. Proven himself. the people ASKED to be directed in how to live in the promised land and in relationship with God. He answered them. he gave them the commands.

Jesus has proven himself to the people. He has brought to them the power of the kingdom of heaven. he has invited them to enter into a relationship with himself. the people listened, they followed. They asked how to live. Jesus begins to teach them. He begins to show them how to live out of this new paradigm, this new relationship.

Jesus is going to hit 6 things that had immense relevance to his people. These are six areas of live to which there were laws attached. They might be far removed from us because we have advanced so much as a culture and as people. Still, he deals with these archaic things of:
  • Anger and murder
  • Lust and marital infidelity
  • Divorce
  • Oaths and lying
  • Revenge
  • Finally, making peace in a war-torn world
Oh, wait a second- these are some of the most timely and relevant issues facing all our lives! Jesus wants us to begin to live like him because it makes a most immediate and practical difference in our lives. These are not arbitrary and irrelevant rules. This is about changing lives at the deepest possible level.

Counselors today talk about Deep Psychology, or depth psychology. This was the school of thought developed by people like Sigmund freud and Carl Jung. In the most basic definition, depth psychology says that our psyche is made up of conscious and unconscious parts. I order to understand our behavior and cognitive approach to life, we much get deep into this unconscious or sub-consious. But more, there is healing power found in uncovering and reveal our deeper, sub-conscious level motives.

In a similar way of thinking, but this is something else entirely, Jesus is going to push us towards a king of deep religion. A religion that goes so deep it’s gets in us, it changes us from the inside out. It changes not just what we do, but who we are. Not just out outward, but the inner heart and motivations.

This week- no fun, fancy tight ending. Rather, I'm intentionally leaving it messy. You need to read the six sections of Matthew 5. Then wrestle with it. Which one is touching your life, or the life of someone you love. Focus on that section. Work it out...

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