Two Worldviews--The Great Reversal

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul" (Matthew 16:24-26a)?

This enigmatic person we know as Jesus, I can't quite get a handle on him, one moment He is is saying, "come unto me all you are heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28); then this man I pictured from the days of my youth, a soft spoken person shows me another side of himself. Just before He spoke those words quoted above He had turned to Peter and with vehemence, a rancor, in His voice He says, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men" (Matthew 16:23).  My flannel board Jesus holding a lamb in His arms surrounded by little children is blown out of the water. I see another side, a worldview that is not mine, something different.  What is it? Did He not give us the Beatitudes speaking of rewards now, success, now, an abundant life, now? I see a contrast that I must confront.

J.B. Phillips rendered the Beatitudes that apply in the Kingdom of this world: This  world's worldview!
Happy are the "pushers": for they get on in the world
Happy are the hard-boiled: for they never let life hurt them.
Happy are they who complain: for they get their won way in the end.
Happy are the blase': for they never worry over their sins.
Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.
Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.
Happy are the trouble-makers: for they make people take notice of them.
The owner of the Chicago Bulls, Jerry Reinsdorf, gave this summary: "The American Dream is to reach a point in your life where you don't have to do anything you don't want to do and can do everything that you do want to do." (Given on the occasion of Michael Jordan's (temporary) retirement))

That may be the American Dream, definitely not Jesus' dream as revealed in the Beatitudes. We find that the Beatitudes express a different world view, God sees the world through different lenses. The Beatitudes are not just good sounding slogans, rather they are deep insights into the mystery of human existence.  It is God turning this world's worldview upside down on its head. We are presented with the deepest level of truth that we can know on earth. Let me take just one Beatitude:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3. Must I go around looking sad, mourning, hungering, become poor by selling my riches just to receive a blessing?  NO! The blessing is not by any of those means; the blessing is the kingdom of heaven already present for Jesus states "Repent for the kingdom or heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17b).Only those who have denied themselves by taking up the cross, changing this world's worldview to that of God's will enter into that kingdom. Those pictured by J.P. Phillips are those who will miss out for they cannot see their need and admit in desperation that need. Then humble themselves to God''s eternal worldview that brings rewards this world can never give. When they do, the kingdom of heaven draws near.

The "poor", those who "mourn", the "merciful", the "meek", the "peacemakers", are not more virtuous than anyone else; they are now prepared to receive the grace of God and in their state of neediness, dependence, and dissatisfaction with life, they may welcome God's free gift of love:  Jesus our savior.

The question for us/me: What is my worldview? Which do I choose? Am I willing to deny myself and turn my life fully over to God and trust Him?  The size of my God is determined how I approach life, especially in times of trouble.

Daily Prayer:

Humbly I come to you asking for forgiveness for often I have put my desires, this world's worldview ahead of Yours.  Teach me O God what I cannot see and if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.  Thank you for Your patience with me and for Your saving Grace.  May I be a shining light to those around me shining Your love to them.                                                            Amen