Nice Little Jesus - NOT

I received a well-meaning response to the Old Tiger post below.

He quoted the Sermon on the Mount. OOPS! I have taught the Beatitudes. If you ever took the course from me you would quickly discover my take on them is very different from the pantywaist Jesus most mainline denominations teach. The Jesus I live and die for is the true and living God, mighty in battle, doing wonders, glorious in holiness, pulling down strongholds and victorious over evil. He is the substance of the warrior’s armor I wear every day.

Just so you are properly oriented here is a better way to see what seems to be at first glance a nice little teaching from a nice little Jesus with a soft impotent message, I need to help you. His message is a call to war:

• Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
You recognize you have no strength in yourself, you know you are needy, but you know in whom you have believed. You are poor in Spirit. More of Him, less of you.

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Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land. (Verse 4)
Meekness is great power under control. Moses was the most powerful man on the face of the earth but God called him meek. Not weak. Meek and submitted to His purposes, controlled but determined to know and do right. Jesus instructed those to whom he gave talents and power to "...occupy till I come." Luke 19:13b. Sounds like we are not only to take the land but become an occupying force as well. Sounds like war.

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Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Sin causes the righteous to mourn. Their own sin and the successes Satan has over the world. They are best comforted when sin, death and the devil are crushed under their feet. Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

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Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Justice (Righteousness) is making things right. Making things as they should be. When crooked and twisted things exist the hunger for more of Jesus causes righteousness to reign in our hearts. It’s that lack of hunger and thirst that causes complacency and lukewarmness. Be HOT or cold or vomited out of His mouth. No middle Ground.

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Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Mercy is sown and reaped. If we allow mercy to control our vision we will see that sometimes the most merciful thing we can do is allow God to work in other people’s lives without our well meaning intervention. We need to understand the nature of mercy and when external mercy is unmerciful.

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Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Clean (Pure) in heart means that we have nothing against others or ourselves. We understand that our deeds or righteousness are as filthy rags. Our motives and intents must be lined up with the word of God. We cannot confront evil if we harbor hidden sin. Seeing God in all things means we don’t see man's reason. Our purposes and intent must be pure.

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Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
How is peace waged? By winning the war. Warring against injustice, warring against sin, warring against the lies of the enemy. Being a peacemaker does not involve compromise. Peacemakers understand that when a person is at odds with the Love of God he is not at peace. So, when we bring a person to Jesus and them teach them to do battle with the sin and the attacks of the enemy we are peacemakers. Peace is won thru victory not surrender.

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Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

This badly translated passage can still stand. If you go to war, expect to be shot at. Sometimes you will be hit. Sometimes you will be wounded. You might even be killed. But yours is the kingdom of heaven. You will win immediately under persecution, eventually under persecution, or ultimately. It’s all about the Kingdom of Heaven. Persecution and the blood of martyrs builds a strong church. Look at China. Persecution and martyrdom has caused tremendous victory. They have entered the Kingdom.

Have we, have you?

This teaching demonstrates that the beatitudes are about living the victorious Christian life. Victory is the result of wars won. So, next time you hear someone preach on this passage, listen for the sound of cannon fire.

Then run to the battle!