The 2nd Beatitude – Passionate Grief That Leads to Hard Choices

“’Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.’ The Greek word for mourn, penthos, is very important. It is the term that was commonly used for mourning the dead. It can also mean a passionate grief that leads to action. Those who mourn are those who die to their own way and live to follow Christ, their master. This leads to some very hard choices.  Worldly pursuits that used to provide fleeting pleasure must be renounced. Jesus tells us that, “No man can serve two masters.” 

Those who truly surrender to God and submit to the authority of Christ will grieve at the status of the world around them. They will renounce ill gotten gains, as well as the pursuit of worldly powers, prestige, and pleasure even if causes them great grief at the time.

Those who renounce their own way and the ways of the world to take up their cross and follow Christ will be comforted. The Greek word, parakaleo, translated “comforted” has an extremely wide range of meaning. It can mean anything from calling for aid, to beseeching God in prayer, to be exhorted, encouraged (or even won over to a given plan), to comforting in times of sorrow. This is the same root as the word used in Gospel of John for Comforter (Holy Spirit).

When we choose to give up the ways of the world by renouncing everything that belongs to the kingdom of darkness, God responds by giving us the down payment on our inheritance in Christ; He sends us the Comforter.” Russell Stendal – The Beatitudes, God’s Plan for Battle.

The 1st Beatitude Matthew 5:3

The 1^st Beatitude – Divested of Pride “’Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heaven…   ‘“A paraphrase of this verse in Aramaic, which is probably the language Jesus taught in, according to the Peshita text which is still used by the Eastern Orthodox Church, could be: Blessed are the poor in pride for they and only they have God as their King. The word poor here is not a word that means that you have a little bit of something, like a little bit of pride, like not too much pride.  It’s the word that is used for the beggar who is absolutely, totally destitute; he’s been completely dispossessed.” “Blessed are those who choose to relinquish their pride no matter what the cost… ” “…those who choose to have God divest them of their pride, for they and only they have God as their King. Do you want to have God as your King?”  Russell Stendal – The Beatitudes, God’s Plan for Battle.

Just War

Last night my husband and I took some friends out for a movie and supper.  We have been neighbors and friends for close to 25 years, they are moving and we wanted to say Good-bye.

To set the stage, I will mention that we went to the movie Battleship.  After, on the drive to the restaurant, our friend (and I can't remember how we got started on the subject) said that "all Christians" should struggle with war. She went on to talk about how the argument should be structured & that she had struggle being married to a man who was retired military (yes, he was right there in the car; he sort of gaffed when she said it, as did my old UNMC hubby).  Even though, no one was saying anything, she became more and more defensive. I wondered,  'who she was becoming defensive with?'  Now, granted, she and I have polar opposite views on -well, EVERYTHING and she may have thought I was going to jump into the fray; she may have been setting up a defense, just in case.

Since it was our last evening together, I decided I wouldn't try to take the argument any further, AND thank goodness the restaurant wasn't that far away, or I may have had to bring up St. Augustine, Just War Theory, and International Law Theory; and that would have just made me sound arrogant (insert sarcasm here). Basically a subject that was discussed in nearly EVERY class I took while getting my degree in Religious Studies.  BTW - a degree that simply taught me I still don't know anything and still have a lot to learn.

However, if you are still trudging through this with me - I will share with you what I do know.  The struggle between Christians as follower of Christ's example should error on the side of pacifism.  Unfortunately, for my friend - it seemed by her argument that she thought this was a new argument and she was the only one with the argument.  St. Augustine of Hippo (November 13, 354 – August 28, 430) would argue differently.  


To save time, and prevent you from having to read my less that stellar writing skills, I'll copy some of his bio from Wikipedia (everything in italics).


Augustine agreed strongly with the conventional wisdom of the time, that Christians should be pacifists in their personal lives. But he routinely argued that this did not apply to the defense of innocents. In essence, the pursuit of peace must include the option of fighting to preserve it in the long-term. Such a war could not be preemptive, but defensive, to restore peace.


This was the one thing I said when she was debating with herself - that "we are charged with defending the defenseless and the oppressed against hedonistic aggressors."  This seems to inflame her thought process, so I didn't say any more (and hoped my hubby would drive faster to the restaurant.)

Ok, back to Augustine.  Out of Augustine's struggle with pacifism vs. war, and based on his understanding of the reason for Christ's sacrifice (and o, BTW that He didn't end the world then)  he developed Just War Theory. It holds three primary factors:

• First, war must occur for a good and just purpose rather than for self-gain or as an exercise of power.
• Second, just war must be waged by a properly instituted authority such as the state.
• Third, peace must be a central motive even in the midst of violence.

There are additional factors as well:

• In self-defense, as long as there is a reasonable possibility of success. If failure is a foregone conclusion, then it is just a wasteful spilling of blood.
• Preventive war against a tyrant who is about to attack.
• War to punish a guilty enemy.

A war is not legitimate or illegitimate simply based on its original motivation: it must comply with a series of additional requirements:

• It is necessary that the response be commensurate to the evil; use of more violence than is strictly necessary would constitute an unjust war.
• Governing authorities declare war, but their decision is not sufficient cause to begin a war. If the people oppose a war, then it is illegitimate. The people have a right to depose a government that is waging, or is about to wage, an unjust war.
• Once war has begun, there remain moral limits to action. For example, one may not attack innocents or kill hostages.
• It is obligatory to take advantage of all options for dialogue and negotiations before undertaking a war; war is only legitimate as a last resort.

Under this doctrine, expansionist wars, wars of pillage, wars to convert infidels or pagans, and wars for glory are all inherently unjust.

So, there you have it in a nutshell (and all from Wikipedia).  Does this necessarily mean that it's a done deal - noooo, not by any means - as attested to by the fact that I had to sit through discussion after discussion after discussion after...well, you get my meaning, on Just War theory.

Now, if you are a connoisseur of St. Augustine - you will probably ask me how I can agree with him (or maybe you don't care - which I would totally understand), I would say that in most of his writings - I don't agree in total. Just in-part - in most things.

Here's the thing I do believe - Just War theory as transcribed into current day International Law Theory, at minimum establishes a common standard that all nations - aggressive or not - understand the principles by which the rest of the nations accept the treatment of their own citizens, expansionist wars, or wars to convert infidels or pagans (which today, is much of the Muslim rhetoric.)

So, to my friend (and, hoping she still is) I say - the debate you were having in your head over pacifism vs. war is not new - it has been debated over and over again; and many of the nations that have been previously liberated from 'expansionist' and genocidal wars accept Just War Theory as the only precept for war over pacifism. I pray this helps you with your struggle and gives you insight into my perspective which I suspect you were defending against.

Love ya,
D

Max Lucado's Fearless and My Thoughts on being a MOM

Max writes, "The more insecure we feel, the meaner we become. We growl and bare our fangs. Why? Because we are bad? In part. But also because we feel cornered.


Martin Niemoller documents an extreme example of this. He was a German pastor who took a heroic stand against Adolf Hitler. When he first met the dictator in 1933, Niemoller stood at the back of the room and listened. Later, when his wife asked him what he'd learned, he said, "I discovered that Herr Hitler is a terribly frightened man." Fear releases the tyrant within.

It also deadens our recall. The disciples had reason to trust Jesus. By now they'd seen him "healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people" (Matt 4:23)...heal a leper...saw demons scatter like bats out of a cave.


Shouldn't someone mention Jesus' track record or review his resume? do they remember the accomplishments of Christ? They may not. Fear creates a form of spiritual amnesia. It dulls our miracle memory. IT makes us forget what Jesus has done and how good God is.


And fear feels dreadful. It sucks the life out of the soul, curls us into an embryonic state, and drains us dry of contentment. We become abandoned barns, rickety and tilting from the winds, a place where humanity used to eat, thrive, and find warmth- no longer. When fear shapes our lives, safety becomes our god. When safety becomes our god, we worship the risk-free life. Can the safety lover do anything great? Can the risk-adverse accomplish noble deeds? For God? For others? No. The fear-filled cannot love deeply. Love is risky. They cannot give to the poor. Benevolence has no guarantee of return. The fear-filled cannot dream wildly. What if their dreams sputter and fall from the sky? The worship of safety emasuclates greatness. No wonder Jesus wages such a war against fear.


His most common command emerges from the "fear not" genre. The Gospels list some 125 Christ-issued imperatives. Of these, 21 urge us to "not be afraid" or "not fear" or "have courage" or "take heart" or "be of good cheer." The second most common command , to love God and neighbor, appears only eight occasions. If the quantity is any indicator, Jesus takes our fears seriously. The one statement he made more than any other was this: Don't be afraid."

So, by now you are probably already getting my thoughts on being a Mom - it requires being Fearless. "The more insecure we feel, the meaner we become. We growl and bare our fangs." We've heard lots of warnings - do NOT come between a mother bear and her cubs. Well, we human mothers are not much different. If we sense there is something threatening our children - we will "release the tyrannt within" to defend, but unless the situation is life threatening - we must always temper our response to that threat keeping in mind we are setting an example AND that threat more than likely - is also someone else's child - grown up or not.

To with stand the storms of life, the most fearless Mom will remember what Jesus has done for her and how good God is in any given situation, so that they do not let fear "suck the life out of the soul", making her into an "abandoned barn, rickety and tilting from the winds" in the storms in her life, "where humanity used to eat, thrive, and find warmth" because the opposite is necessary to bring her children into adulthood where they can withstand the storms of life, eat, thrive, and find warmth! And love deeply.

As mothers, we must reject making fear our god - worshipping the risk-free life. There is nothing risk-free about raising children. There are the risks of falling down when they first start to walk, scrapes and bruises learning to ride a bike, learning to drive, going off to college OR WAR!!

"The fear-filled cannot love deeply. Love is risky. The worship of safety emasculates greatness." To raise children to adulthood - mothers must have a vision of greatness - otherwise, you will just sit back in your arm chair - safely.

Mothers understand (whether they know Christ or not) His imperatives. At night when she tucks her child in she"ll say, "do not be afraid" (there's nothing under the bed), "have courage" (just swing the bat when the ball comes across the plate),or "be of good cheer" (have fun tonight, but drive carefully).

If there is one thing a Mom is - it's Fearless. Happy Mother's Day - you Fearless Warrior!

May God Bless you !
Denise

Israel In The New Testament by David Pawson

Pawson speaking on the Book of Romans and in particular, the pinnacle of the book Chapters 9-11 he says, "...the situation that Paul was dealing with...was the beginning of replacement theology, anti-Semitism in the church, of Gentile arrogance toward the Jews, even among Christians. A desperate situation."

Even more dangerous today is Christian complacency. I hear so many saying with so much excitement..."The End Times are being played out before our eyes! Come Lord Jesus!" I'm one also who says, "Come Lord Jesus", but... BUT- you say? Yes, but...

During the Holocaust (as I refer to it, the 1st Holocaust - because the way we are laying comfortably on our beds - there is likely to be a 2nd) many Christians believed (some still believing) that God had replaced the Jews with the Christian church, they sat with folded hand and idle feet while atrocities beyond comprehension were taking place all around them; all the while saying, “The End Times are being played out before our eyes! Come Lord Jesus!"

Many of those Christian have since passed into heaven and have stood before that very same Jesus. I don’t know what transpired, but one thing I do know is that...I do not want to get to heaven and have that same Jesus ask me “What were you doing while you waited for me to come? Did you do anything to prevent the savage brutality against my sons and daughters?”

Today as I read the Book of Romans, I heard more loudly than ever Paul’s desperate cries against arrogance and complacency. Like Paul, I say, “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”

Please spend sometime over the next days and weeks to pray for the peace and protection of Israel. And, pray the Lord will guard your heart from complacency.

God Bless

Denise