Matthew 5:3-7:27 … the Sermon on the Mount (12/16/13)
“Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace; more about killing than we know about living. We have grasped the mystery of the atom, and yet have rejected the Sermon on the Mount.”~ General Omar N. Bradley
65 million copies of the Bible are bought or distributed in the United States every year–more than any other publication (nothing else is even a close second). Indeed, the average American house has at least three Bibles in it. We see Americans cheering the Bible, championing the Bible, raising up the Bible, worshiping the Bible, buying the Bible, giving the Bible and owning the Bible …
It just turns out that many of these folks don’t seem to actually READ the Bible.
Indeed, according to a recent Gallup poll, only one third of Bible owners knew who delivered the Sermon on the Mount (that would be Jesus), fewer than half of those surveyed could name the first book of the Bible (that would be Genesis), and 80 percent of born-again Christians polled believe the phrase “God helps those who help themselves” is in the Bible (It’s not — that one is actually from Ben Franklin) …
Assuming that this is even a partially accurate portrayal of at least a portion of the current Christian population (and I would offer that it is), then it is no wonder that so many Christians openly favor “healthy boundaries” in their relationships … and desire the deportation of Muslims & other “heathens” … and actively condemn homosexuals & other “sinners” … and brazenly advocate the use of torture on potential “terrorists” … and loudly champion the death penalty for “major offenders” (and aggressive prison sentences for minor ones) … and zealously defend “just warfare” as an effective means for attaining peace.
Admittedly, I am not the expert of experts when it comes to the Bible (NO ONE is), and yet I DO know enough of its texts to know the following:
… that if Jesus is indeed alive somewhere today, he most surely has his shaking head in both his saddened hands,
… and that if he is not, he is most surely rolling over (& over & over) in his grave.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer, but if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak to him as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile with them, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to receive from you.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. For He makes his sun rise on both the evil and on the good, and He sends rain on both the righteous and on the unrighteous.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:38-45)
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