Blessed Are......

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) are some of the most recognized of Jesus' teachings.  They begin with the familiar, "Blessed are..." (from the NRSV translation):  blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are the merciful, only to name a few.  They are the opening scene to the Sermon on the Mount, those chapters of the gospel of Matthew (5-7) that the great biblical scholar Hans Dieter Betz described as the epitome or essential teachings of Jesus. Readers have easily recognized the radical message from the Beatitudes; how  they turn upside down our expectations.  We don't typically think of those who mourn, or those who are poor in spirit, or those who are persecuted as "blessed".  At the same time, we don't typically associate mercy, being a peacemaker, or being meek as attributes of power or recognition.  

Further, there has been longstanding debate over whether or not the Beatitudes are descriptions of an eschatological age (what it will be like in heaven) or if they are how Jesus intends his followers to be upon this earth.  I remember some years back during a floor discussion at annual conference, as a resolution was being debated, I brought up a part of the Beatitudes.  A person, in reply, rose to the microphone and said with much passion, "Those are not intended for us now, it is what things will be like one day in heaven!"  I am not so sure I agree with this assessment.  In reading John Wesley's Notes on the New Testament, he like many scholars today, recognizes the Beatitudes as a call to discipleship to be fulfilled in the present age, not simply a description of the future.  Wesley noted how Jesus taught disciples in a gentle manner, not appealing to guilt or reflecting anger, but instead inviting them to a truly happy life. 

The word translated "blessed" in the NRSV (New Revised Standard Version) is makarioi, in Greek.  Other versions translate the word as "happy" or "congratulations"; happy are the peacemakers or congratulations to the merciful.  Biblical scholar Douglas R.A. Hare points out that the word, when seen in a Hebrew context (as Jesus was Jewish this would most likely been his frame of reference) points to one who is in an authentic or "right" relationship with God. (Hare, Douglas R.A., Interpretation:  Matthew, John Knox Press, 1993, p. 35-6)  Based in this understanding, if we wish to live our lives in right relationship to God, we do well to re-consider the spirit and attitude reflected in Jesus' words in the opening section to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount.  We must also take the next step in asking how they call us to live differently today. 

A few weeks ago, in a copy of a 1928 Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I found a scrap of paper with the following title, "Beatitudes for Church Members". It was at one time given out to church members of Hamline Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, in Lawrenceburg, Indiana; although I am sure other churches at the time used it, as well.   Borrowing Jesus' framework in the Gospel of Matthew, the paper attempted to proscribe ways the disciples of the current age could be intentional about living an authentic life of faith.  I found them quite interesting:  (I have changed some of the language from the 1920's to more modern usages, but the spirit is retained. I have also given some comments in parenthesis)

Beatitudes for Church Members

·         "Blessed is the one who regards his church first on the Sabbath Day." (This speaks to our priorities, do we intentionally find and honor times of rest and connecting with God each week.)

·         "Blessed is the one whose calendar contains prayer-meeting night." (What do our calendars say about our priorities?)

·         "Blessed is the one who is faithful on a Committee."

·         "Blessed is the one who will not strain at a drizzle and swallow a downpour."   (The one who knows how to keep drama at a proper level.)

·         "Blessed is the one who can endure an hour and a quarter in a place of worship as well  as two hours and a half in a place of amusement."

·         "Blessed is the church officer who is not pessimistic" (Amen)

·         "Blessed is the one who loves the church with her pocket as well as her heart."

·         "Blessed is the one who is generous with his neighbor in all things except analyzing him or her."

·         "Blessed is the one who keeps church time,  as well as business time."

·         "Blessed is the one who has grace to leave the critical spirit on the sidewalk when he comes to church."

·         "Blessed is the one who loves his own church enough to praise it."

·         "Blessed is the one who has patience as well as piety."

At the end of the form, it has these words, "no one is asked to sign this pledge.  It is only a suggestion as to what each one may resolve in his own heart."  Yet, today I wonder if I would have the courage to sign my name to such a pledge.  I would like very much to say, "yes", but I don't want to dismiss how difficult some of things will be and how easily their opposites become habit.  At the same time, would I be willing to sign my name to Jesus' Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount; an even deeper question. 

The invitation at the end of this article then, is this:  answer these questions for yourself, but don't do it too quickly.  Spend time praying about what these Beatitudes for Church Members and especially what the Beatitudes of Jesus ask of each one of us.   We will due them no honor with a quick easy sign off.  Live with the tension, the hard questions, and see if God leads you to a new place. 

Think deeply, our faith deserves our best!

Brett