Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Sermon on the Plane

Due to the overwhelming study of the beatitudes in my group on Sunday nights, I could not help but wonder about the warning that Jesus gives in Matthew 7:15. Jesus says this;"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.".
I took this warning to be against all that Jesus had just taught and explained about walking out a godly life. So with that in mind I wanted to come up with an inverted version of the beatitudes that would fit more in line with our culture and our ways. This way we could definitely tell the difference between a good tree and a bad tree and to better discern the wolf hiding in lambs wool.
I have put the beatitudes in a paradoy form to convey in humor the route that a prophet of ravenous blood type might take. He/she might take a more subtle approach, but I think we'll grasp the thought.

Taken from The Gospel According to We The People.
NINV(Noels Inverted Version)

"Cursed are the poor, you should ask G-d for more.
Cursed are the mouneres, just be happy.
Cursed are the meek, you'll just get run over if
you are in my way, so just run with the crowd.
Cursed are the ones who hunger and thirst after
righteousness, you shouldn't take this G-d thing so
seriously.
Mercy is for losers, only the strong survive.
Cursed are the pure in heart, everyone is truly good anyway
and there really is no evil.
Just co-exist! Unless of course someone tries to hurt
you or says you might be wrong.
Don't let others revile you, give back what they deserve
with all your heart mind and soul and strength.
Persecute the prophets like your fathers did
before you.
An eye for an eye, so let it be!!
Swear falsely if it serves your needs.
If someone slaps you on the right cheek, you have every
right to use as much force as necessary to defend
your honor.
If things aren't working out with your spouse, have a
little romance on the side or get divorced.
Lay up treasure here on earth for yourself
and just call it a nest egg.
You can not serve two masters, so serve yourself
well.
Seek first your kingdom and may G-d bless
much.
Help the poor and unfortunate, it will make you
feel better about yourself.
For mine is the Kingdom, the power and
the glory.
And all the congregation said; AMEN!!"
This maybe a little far fetched, but I think this could, and has happened in our thinking. It is not far from what the prophet Jeremiah recorded in Jeremiah 6:13-15:"For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain and form prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, 'peace, peace', when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed they did not know how to blush....".
You see, it's always a bad thing when a group, community or a whole race of people in general become so desensitized that they have forgotten to blush, It has been replaced with the pride of applause and compromise to that which most embodies godliness. Then, at the adherence of a beatitude that sits so low on the plane of our bane ways, the teachings of our own kingdom fly high the banner of selfishness led by false teachers caring only for themselves. We then as the sheep follow to the lovely tune they play.
Let it be true for those that are disciples of Jesus Messiah, that we follow His ways and then help each other and lift each other up so as to glorify G-d in heaven.
Let's all reach above beyond the plane to the mountaintop instead shall we?

1 comment:

  1. Powerful and entertaining at the same time! Noel, God is at work within and through you!

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