Things that make you go hmm …
I am rooting in Matthew, preparing for the sermon on the mount series we will start on May 23rd. I’m haunted by a reoccurring theme I seem to find in Jesus’ teaching and life example. This theme is noticeable when you consider the things Jesus didn’t do that he was expected to do (by the Jews who were looking for Jesus to “deliver” them).
Jesus didn’t get involved in politics at all. In fact, He says very little about politics of the ruling government (contrasted with the politics of the religious leaders, which Jesus had a very obvious problem with and talked about often.) This is even more striking when you study the political debacle of those times. I am sure Jesus could have easily picked many issues with the government and rebuked them and taught on them, but he didn’t. Jesus also didn’t fight or comment much on those who did. Again, when you look at the history surrounding Jesus’ visit on earth, it was plagued with wars involving the Jews. The Jews had been fighting for their religious freedoms for generations. The Jews expected their savior to lead the charge in combat. Jesus didn’t encourage his followers to take up this cause. In fact, he taught in contrast:
38-42“Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for eye, tooth for
tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I propose: ‘Don’t
hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there and take it. If
someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back,
giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes
unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.
No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
43-47“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its
unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m
telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you,
not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the
energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves,
your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the
sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good
and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you
expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those
who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does
that.
48“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it.
Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and
graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.
I think the key is in the last verse: “You’re kingdom subjects.” I am sure Jesus could have spent his whole life rebuking the practices of the unbelieving world around Him, but he didn’t. Instead he spent the majority of his time teaching the unbelieving world about “kingdom” things. I know this is the example I as a believer am called to follow, I need to focus on kingdom things instead of being distracted by the world. I am not going lend my energy to politics and wars, there’s too much to do for the kingdom.
