Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Hard - Isn't It Hard?
* Scripture: Jesus said, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48, NKJV

What a challenge Jesus laid out for us in the Beatitudes! It is just our earthly nature to nit-pick the rule of most anything and thereby fall short of God's plan. If we are commanded to take just one of something, we will likely pick the largest, the fanciest, the most expensive item of the lot. Or the one with the most sugar or chocolate. (Go ahead - try to convince me it isn't so!)
One young lad, upon taking the larger slice of cake, was reminded of the fine art of sharing by his mother. "Taking the smaller piece is the polite thing to do," she chided. "Well, she's got the polite piece," he said of his sister.
Then of course, there is the polite horse, who always stopped and let the rider go over the jump first. "Polite is not always "proper," not always good enough.
Jesus goes way beyond just being polite in The Beatitudes; He points to the heavenly way, the "Father in Heaven's" way. The John 3:16 way. The way of servant hood and forgiveness. Jesus was the True Vine, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd. Jesus has set the example, fulfilling the true intent of the Laws and the Prophets.
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus affirms His role, giving examples where our earthly nature to nit-pick conflicts with the Divine intention behind the Laws and Commandments.
God judges the hidden sins, the thoughts and attitudes we so cleverly disguise from our brothers and sisters of the world.
We speak of road rage and spectator (especially parent) rage at sporting events, and can rightly point to examples where anger has developed to violence - and anguish.
Jesus recommends not only reconciliation - making things right after the anguish - but also steps to make reconciliation unnecessary! "Turn the other cheek." "Go the extra mile." "Give to him who asks." "Love your enemies." Hard! Isn't it Hard?
For the most part, we are polite to our friends and acquaintances. We greet them, we try to be pleasant and polite, even when our "Great!" reply to "How are you?" is a bit of a stretch. But the stranger, the person we may never see again, often gains the full treatment of our surly attitude.
And God likewise gains the full treatment of our surly attitude!
February 12, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Pressure Relief Valve
* Scripture: Jesus said, "But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgement” Matthew 5:22a, NRS

Power! Energy! For centuries, people have depended upon wind and water as the force to grind their grain and turn their machinery. There is a problem with natural sources of power, however. Wind and water don’t always occur where you need them, and in the necessary quantities. Too little of either will not power the equipment; too much can be destructive.
Enter the steam engine. Now, power could be produced anywhere, and in the amount needed to get the work done. Essentially a genie in a bottle, except that the genie sometimes burst the bonds of its confinement with an explosion of the boiler. Pressure relief valves were often difficult to adjust, and sometimes failed. One little flaw in the boiler structure can also lead to massive destruction of the engine.
Our human engine is like that sometimes, also. Fueled by pent-up anger, people sometimes seem to explode in a burst of very destructive behavior. Road rage is a constant headline in the news. Fights and confrontations break out at athletic events. Multiple killings at schools, businesses, and even in courts of law leave us in stunned disbelief.
It’s not a new phenomena, however. Genesis 4:8 describes how Cain slew Able in a fit of anger. The problem remains. The solution is elusive. Often, everything seems to be going well, until . . . BOOM!
Anger is a reality. Paul associates anger with bitterness, wrath, clamor, evil speaking and malice in his letter to the Ephesians (4: 31). Jesus counsels that anyone who is angry with his brother (or sister) will be subject to judgment.
Obviously, we need to find a ‘pressure relief valve,’ lest anger lead us to sin. The best remedy seems to be steeping oneself in ‘attitude adjustment’ practices. Paul advises prayer on the matter, (1 Timothy 2:8) and Jesus recommends reconciliation with the ones with whom you have a dispute (Matthew 5:24). It probably wouldn’t hurt if we read the Sermon on the Mount frequently, especially in trying times, to remind us to change our outlook toward others. (Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7; Luke 6:20-49. ) Note that Matthew chapter 6 includes the model prayer, including petitions for forgiveness for both ourselves and others.
Remember that we are to love God and our neighbors, including our enemies and those who curse and spitefully use us. (Mt. 5:44)
We need to be both listeners and sharers; communications is the essence of community. In so doing, we build that pressure relief valve that will help keep us from disaster.
March 20, 2005