living in the world

Sunday for the Vision I used the passage from 1 John 2:12-17. It includes in it (from The Message) ^15-17Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.

Then I quoted from an article from Walter Brueggeman (who was my prof of OT in seminary), "Enough is Enough." It seems like everything I am reading in scripture and otherwise is pointing to this same core, especially at a time that the "world" is working overtime to try to get control of itself.

I think we are all -liberal and conservative - trying to change the world on the world's terms. Many churches are trying to convince the world of Jesus, on the world's terms. There are periods of "success", but eventually it leads to frustration because it can't be sustained. We are looking for eternal answers with short-term, worldly fixes. Jesus teaches via the Sermon on the Mount in a place away or a quiet place. This sermon is great teaching and it could only soak it beyond the tired brain cells of the disciples, on retreat. We live in a "world" that needs more retreat from it so we can serve in it.

I've been reading again the small book by JB Phillips, "Your God Is Too Small." This is from it in reflecting on the Beatitudes:
"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 those who complain: for they get their own 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 (humans) of the world: for they know their way around.
Happy are the trouble-makers: for people have to take notice of them.

"Jesus Christ said:

Happy are those who realize their spiritual poverty: they have already entered the kingdom of Reality.
Happy are they who bear their share of the world's pain: in the long run they will know more happiness than those who avoid it.
Happy are those who accept life and their own limitations: they will find more in life than anybody.
Happy are those who long to be truly 'good': they will fully realize their ambition.
Happy are those who are ready to make allowances and to forgive: they will know the love of God.
Happy are those who are real in their thoughts and feelings: in the end they will see the ultimate Reality, God.
Happy are those who help others to live together: they will be known to be doing God's work."

I like Eugene Peterson's version in The Message:
"Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

³"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

⁶"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

⁷"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

⁸"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

¹⁰"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

^11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."

David Loar, Fairlawn West United Church of Christ, Akron Ohio church consumed by the world of wanting and getting