Comments on: Turning Good News into Bad News

By: tompwarner

tompwarner — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:21:36 +0000

In The Divine Conspiracy, author Dallas Willard comes up with a different way of interpreting the first two beatitudes. Usually we think of those two as some sort of mental/spiritual attitude that qualifies us for God’s blessing, i.e., if we can only
1 Admit our spiritual bankruptcy, and
2 Mourn our wrongs rather than defending ourselves, we will qualify for the blessings listed.
Alternatively, Willard suggests that Jesus was announcing a present kingdom reality that had begun to break into the lives of people who were hearing him, and that EVEN THOUGH they were spiritually bankrupt (whether they acknowledged that or not) and were experiencing sorrow about the way life was going (not necessarily mourning about their sins), God’s spiritual reign and his comfort were breaking into their lives, in the presence of Jesus the King.

By: pegramsdell

pegramsdell — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:52:07 +0000

mtmn, thanks for the tip on the toast and jelly thing. good advice…..lol

By: bubbles

bubbles — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:14:20 +0000

One thing I’ve been learning as I get older is that we are what we are by God’s grace and mercy. Anyone, at any time could find themselves in cirmcumstances that are difficult. One single minute could render us homeless or in a dire situation we could never have imagined ourselves in the minute before.

It’s important to remember that when being with people. They are people that Jesus loved and died for, and when they are thought of that way, it’s easy to see them, and not the outward sin that some may look down upon.

By: poohpity

poohpity — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:14:56 +0000

What I love about the beatitudes is they are not a list of do not’s but a list of do’s. The attitudes that transform a life and make it great to BE around people that have them. Our attitudes will be a reflection of what we truly believe. Those attitudes will be seen in our behavior and actions.

By: wretch-like-me

wretch-like-me — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:59:32 +0000

God Bless You All:
I have been following this and other similar sources for some time and want to share with you a couple of statements that deeply impacted me.

“Being Right… And Rude… Is Wrong!”

“Always dip your Arrows of Truth in Honey.”

By: mtman

mtman — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:41:02 +0000

HEY REV: That is strange that you posted that because I had thought the very same thing. Only I was thinking how many sit right next to the same folks week after week at church and don’t ever share any of the things that are posted here.
Also that I have discovered that it is not wise to eat toast with marmalade on it while typing. I now have a rather sticky keyboard. Everyone have a great day.

By: HEY REV

HEY REV — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:10:33 +0000

Hello all. I’m not going to make any comments as I see that I will have to reread all the blog’s given. There was much to dig into.
I sometimes wonder how far our conversation would have gone if all of us were sitting in a large room and circle with pens and tablets in hand. After all is done we turn our notes in and one of us would have to break down what was really said between all of us and give it to you Mart.
Now my question to you is:
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WOULD SAY (you don’t have to respond to this just think)
Bottom line this one was a deeper than some of the others, but still very,deep thoughts.
God Bless.
Rev. Ron

By: sjd

sjd — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:04:32 +0000

I guess if we are creating lists, there is something wrong.

The Beatitudes to me have been a reflection of what the New Creation is to look like. Not so much want I strive for, but see in my life as I walk with Christ. If my life does not have evidence of those things, and the fruit of the Spirit is not being seen in me, then I must be depending on the flesh, rather than the Spirit. For my new heart desires God and His ways.

For me, not to share Scripture that reveals our lack of dependence on the Spirit, then that is a lack of love. (We grieve the Spirit when we don’t live by faith as new creatures.) I agree with Daisy, the Church is the salt of the earth. I pray that we don’t get bottled up.

It seems the older I get, the less finger pointing occurs, as I recognize His mercy and grace in my life. I long for people to admonish me if they see me drifting. And with this “wooden head” of mine, I still seem to do some drifting. At least I am still on top of the water.:)

By: daisymarygoldr

daisymarygoldr — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:57:15 +0000

I am thankful for all the meaningful conversations we had here in the past couple of weeks… except for the abortion topic… I’m really missing BruceC… you and your wife are in my thoughts.

Agree that those who lusted in their hearts are equally sinful to the divorced or remarried (except in case of adultery)… that we should not use the high standards of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount to criticize or condemn those who are aware of their failure and have already run to Him for help…. that we should not use words meant to humble the proud to further beat those who are already broken… causing them more pain.

However, what is my Christ-like response when I am subjected to such a treatment by others in church? When people use words to add pain to my pain…it does hurt… but I am called to forgive. Since I am forgiven much by my Lord, I am required to forgive my accusers in church…. that is exactly what it means to love my enemies… i.e. to love those who do not love me.

Showing Christ-like love to those who do not love me is not easy… For me, the trick is to recognize that it is God who is using people… Knowing how arrogant my heart can be… sometimes it takes words to further beat down my half-broken stubbornness… to finally send me back to obedience.

Must admit that in my spiritual short-sightedness I get easily angered with people and get bitter when people in church hurt me… but I am careful never to criticize or condemn God’s anointed. Although, the devil deceives me into thinking that withholding the truth is love… I know that love will always seek the supreme best of others… “An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Prov 27:5-6)

The Church is the salt of the earth… and sometimes her words of good news will surely sting the open wounds of blatant and unrepentant sins in the body. I believe that what my flesh perceives as bad news is actually good news of God’s Holy Spirit purifying me… hence, my focus is not people who are beating me down… rather my eyes remain focused on Jesus and His forgiving love that is telling me to “go and sin no more”.

By: paulruppert

paulruppert — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 14:42:06 +0000

I liked the article. Being a police officer and dealing with all kinds including myself, I see that the so called righteous tend to think they see the whole picture of life and tend to their interpretation of what they think they know and understand on others who they see as the sinner instead of understanding that the only person who was without sin was Jesus Himself. The most difficult task we will every have in this life understands another human being that includes ourselves. I like this article because it made me think not of other’s misgivings, but my own. In that sense, I then can see others I deal with including family with a heart of forgiveness and an attempt to understand.