Reading through Matthew 5-7 this morning I couldn't help but think about how far we have come from the seemingly clear message that Christ taught. Just some examples:
"Do not resist the one who is evil" has become, "If we as Christians do not resist evil people, they will take over the world and we will lose all of our freedoms."
"But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also" has become, "If anyone attacks you either verbally or physically you must stand up for yourself. As Christians we must have respect for ourselves. Christ didn't mean not to protect yourself if someone attacks you, this was just a cultural commandment. He really meant to show how crazy it would be for us to respond this way, no one would ever really expect you to allow someone to beat you up."
"If anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well" has become "If anyone sues me I am going to counter-sue and show them what happens if they mess with the big dog. Jesus definitely didn't actually mean for us to just suffer wrongs and give away all that we have when accused."
"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you" has become "I would give, but I know they will just use the money for alcohol and the only thing that I would even be a little comfortable giving is money because that guy is dirty and smells and I'm really busy so there is no way that I am going to sit down next to him and have a conversation or pray for him or go buy him a burger or rent him a hotel room."
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" has become "They threaten my freedom and my land, they must die."
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heave, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" has become "I know that there are hungry people in my neighborhood, a church in Equador that has members dying because of disease that is easily cured with medication, a college student that I am friends with on Facebook who is trying to raise enough money so that he can live in a dirt hut in Guana to live out the gospel, and a mother that I pass on the walk to work who is working three jobs to take care of her six kids (which is just irresponsible so I don't even feel bad about that one), but if I don't save up for retirement I will be a drain on society and so I am just going to fill my 401k, it's really the only responsible thing to do."
"If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness." has become "It's just looking, I'll be fine. I'm not doing anything"
"Do not be anxious about your life" has become "I can't eat, sleep, or think because I have so much to do and nothing is working out right"
"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them" has become "I wouldn't normally be this mean, but it's only because of how he treated me that I'm acting this way"
Now, I am speaking to myself here just as much as to the next guy. I just find it crazy how simple so many of Jesus' commands in this passage are clear and simple, yet we change them to be almost exactly the opposite of what he said. And most of the bigger ones, the ones that might hurt a little to accept, are typically the one's that we have heard others defend for years and we have never stopped to question whether Jesus' words mean what he said or whether the teaching that we are hearing actually makes sense and can be argued from Scripture.
In the end, Christ gives us the only formula that we need, "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Put yourself in the shoes of everyone in front of you and act accordingly.
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