I've been reading over my notes from the Forge Conference, and in particular thinking a lot about Deb Hirsch's session on The Beatitudes.
One line really struck me, and has been forcing me to look at my own life and actions. She said "Many people argue that the world's most dedicated Christian was a Hindu!" in relation to Ghandi meditating on the life of Jesus, and in particular the Beatitudes.
The world's most dedicated Christian was a Hindu... ouch! But my question is, does that hurt because in actual fact it's true? If a Christian is a Follower of Christ - then Ghandi certianly did that...he followed Christ's teaching to the letter. The only difference between him and a "Christian" is that from my understanding, he did not see Jesus as the Messiah or the Son of God.
Ghandi took the teachings of Jesus, and became one of the world's most talked about peace-makers. He allowed the Beatitudes to really infect his life and made the changes necessary in his own life that literally allowed him to change the world.
So what if Christians did this? What if all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus, actually let ourselves change as a result of the teachings of Jesus. What if we looked at the Beatitudes, and actually allowed it to change the way we lived our lives.
Jesus says in Luke 6:20-22:
Then Jesus turned to His disciples and said "God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh. What blessings await you when people hate and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way."
This entire passage was counter-cultural at the time. You see back in bible times, you were considered blessed by God if you were well fed, wealthy and respected... sound familiar? Deb argued that Jesus knew that "there is something in the freedom & the simplifying of life that is beautiful and blessed".
That's what Ghandi realized. Ghandi realized that he was blessed when he was poor, and hungry and saddened and mocked. Because he wasn't bound by the chains of society, because he wasn't bound by wanting to be rich, powerful, and liked, he was able to start a movement that changed the world.
I wonder - did the Founders of The Salvation Army realize the same simple truth? Did William & Catherine Booth have that inner wisdom that told them that there is freedom to be found in the poor. That we actually "need the poor to show us our own poverty" as Deb put it. Perhaps they understood this. Perhaps they were driven by the stories of love, grace and forgiveness found when you work with the poor. Perhaps whilst working with the poor they, like so many of us, have found Jesus looking back at us when we're clothing and feeding and loving what society deems as "unworthy" or "unlovable" or "cursed".
I'll leave you with one last quote of Deb's to mill over:
"The Beatitudes challenge us to the core of our being - full of challenge, beauty and danger for the way we live our life." - Deb Hirsch
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2 comments:
Jesus says in Luke 6:20-22:
Then Jesus turned to His disciples and said "God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh. What blessings await you when people hate and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil
BECAUSE YOU FOLLOW THE SON OF MAN.
When that happens, be happy! Yes leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way."
Ghandi did not follow Jesus, everything he did was in his own strength and although he was a good man and self sacrificing, he personally received the glory. I admire Ghandi for some of the things he did, yet don't agree with all he said and did. It is dangerous to put him on a pedestal, especially when Jesus is the one who should be worshipped.
The beautitudes was addressed to the disciples of Jesus, and meant as a warning and encouragement as well as instruction. The disciples were going to suffer BECAUSE THEY FOLLOWED JESUS, and Jesus was warning this would happen and promising to honour them for it.
Be careful of Ghandi worship.
Thank you anonymous for your message, but I think you've missed the point. At no point am I Ghandi worshipping - if I was, I'd convert to Hinduism not be using his journey as a point of challenge to "Christians" who refuse to actually follow the teachings of Jesus.
Let's face it, in the church today, people who are well meaning are also doing it in their own strength for personal glory.
The point of this blog was at no point saying that we should look to Ghandi for advice (we don't have to, we worship the teacher of the teachings he studied!)- though the title did use the play on words for WWJD - it was merely to say, that Ghandi read and studied the teachings of Jesus and took from them a life that is counter-cultural.
As a church, as CHRIST FOLLOWERS - if we truly take on board that we are disciples of Jesus, we- like Ghandi- need to let the words of Jesus infect the very core of our being and allow it to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in our lives, and in this world.
Imagine what would have happened if Ghandi had have converted to Christianity (which from what I've read he only didn't do because of Christians!!) ... imagine the greater impact that would have had on the world. If we as Christians believe that we hold the ultimate truth (which I do) but we don't allow it to make a difference in this world - then we've missed the point...we're not disciples after all.
I do appreciate your comment, but feel you've missed the crux of what was being said. Sorry if it wasn't clear enough.
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