Jesus' invitation for a new way of life...

I've been hanging out in Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 all summer long.
I have immersed myself in the rich words of Jesus, the explanation of his rhythms and interpretations for how real life is lived called The Sermon on the Mount. In the midst of a summer of chaos, complexity and busyness, it has brought me back to the basics, reminded me of the foundational elements of following Jesus, the simplicity of faith. It's been challenging, refreshing, enlightening, frightening and encouraging. Probably the reason why I have stayed there and haven't been able to move on from it is because I have so much to learn from it and I am far from where I need to be to live out these values in my everyday, ordinary life.

I've also been re-reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic book The Cost of Discipleship, where he expounds on each saying of the Sermon on the Mount. It's rich and deep. My brain can only handle a few pages at a time before I have to put the book down in order to process it all. (If you've never read it, pick it up. It's worth its weigh in gold).

I've tried to outline these three chapters of Matthew, highlighting the values of the Kingdom of God that Jesus communicates to his listeners. Here's what I have come up with so far...

Jesus opens his teaching on the new way of life by sharing that the kingdom of God is inclusive, open to a wide variety of types of people (5:1-12).

He then goes on to talk about several important concepts of the kingdom:

• Influencing for good (5:13-16)
• Scripture and its practices (5:17-20)
• Valuing Human Lie (5:21-26)
• Purity in Marriage/Healthy relationships (5:27-32)
• Truth-telling and Truth-living (5:33-37)
• Generosity of our lives (5:38-42)
• Forgiveness (5:43-48)
• Generosity of our possessions (6:1-6)
• Communicating with God (6:5-15)
• Fasting (6:16-18)
• Possessions and Priorities (6:19-24)
• Trust, Freedom from worry, priorities (6:25-34)
• Judging and passing judgment (7:1-6)
• Asking God (7:7-12)

Jesus ends his teaching on the new way of life with three metaphors:

• gates (7:13-14)
• tree/fruit (7:15-23)
• builders (7:24-27)

I read over the list of values above and I'm struck with this profoundly simple thought: if I am to be a faithful follower of Jesus then these rhythms will be clearly evident in my own life.
Consequently, I'm struck with this profoundly simple realization: I have a long way to go to have Christ fully shaped in the rhythms of my everyday activities, thoughts and behaviors. 

Comments

[swmrr]

Hi J.R. thank you for posting this interesting and challenging summary. It is very timely for me because I have received a great deal of emotional healing for family-related issues these past 4 months. Suddenly I have compassion for people I thought I would never be able to understand. I had a great visit with my Dad the other day. I connected with him better than I have my entire 40+ years. I am more at peace now with a deceased older, "favored" sibling.

All of this came at a great price, though. I attempted to join in on some ministries at a large church. I could not understand the subtle feedback they were trying to give me. There were other issues but I think the indirectness in their communication, and irrelevance of the formal application process were what did it for me. The verses from Matthew can help me to review my part in what happened with those well-intentioned people. I have found much more grace in 12 step programs than I have found in the church. Part of the grace I see in this case is not to retaliate or defend myself as I try to gently exit. There is someone I was very close to at that large church. These verses can guide me in a way to succinctly tell this person why I can no longer attend any event at that church. Defending myself and blaming others will not be respectful to my Lord Jesus Christ. I had no idea that 1 Corinth 9 would become a life chapter for me, back in high school. I now have a deeper understanding of folks who have been so hurt by church politics that they never want to return. I still have faith that there is a place for me in a church somewhere. I want to be able to "be all things to all men" and give understanding for those who have lost that faith. But I cannot do all that on my own. I need the Holy Spirit and continual reminders that it is not all up to me.