Art

For someone like me, who worries about the state of our country and the state of Christianity as so many so-called Christians practice it now, the Sermon on the Mount troubles the soul. How, we ask ourselves, can people that we have known for years, who live decent lives and never miss church, suddenly begin saying and writing things that would make the Galilean wince? Have they never read The Sermon, or have they simply stopped? How can a non-religious person like me use it—The Sermon that is—as a daily guide, when you could wield it like a crucifix on a vampire, to chase away the likes of a Franklin Graham?

That’s a question designed for better minds than mine. We all have our cognitive limits and I certainly do.

But, you may be thinking, "That’s never stopped you before."

True that. So here goes.

If we accept the premise, as I do, that The Sermon is many things, including a high-level work of art, we notice things about it that that are consistent with other great works of art. For example, in art, we must have “an approachable object.” What one does with that object makes a work of art.

In this case, the Galilean has an opportunity to elevate the message of righteousness by emphasis, erudition, and expansion. He chose his spot in history as carefully as Ansel Adams chose his spots on earth, or Rembrandt chose his faces in the crowd.

Art also offers a range of values, sometimes from pure white to pure dark. Consider the range of humanity in a great novel, say from Peggotty to Uriah Heep in Dickens great work, David Copperfield.

The Galilean provides us first with challenge of attitude that is easy to achieve. Call it the lighter, more doable, segment of his work.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

What could be more simple and straightforward than than respect for those words? It certainly doesn’t sound, as so many fundamentalists now claim, that it is taken “out of context.”

He shifts, rather suddenly, to the dark and troublesome exhortations.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

Even a true and great Christian like President Jimmy Carter admitted to having trouble with that one.

It’s a hard and rocky road to travel, this living by The Sermon. Maybe that’s why so many people who once led thoughtful and generous lives now follow the mantra, “I’m with those who hate the same people I do.”

Those are the thoughts that trouble me today. Oh, and yes, I’ve quoted from the King James version of The Sermon in deference to my conservative readers who prefer to “read the Scriptures in the original English.” At any rate, new versions of the Holy Bible ordained by “prosperity-gospel” preachers and cult-evangelicals will no doubt expunge The Sermon in its entirety. The translation and its demanding strictures may be lost to history. So, I’m afraid, will our national experiment in social justice for all and care for the "least of those among us" that was so long in coming, so difficult in endeavor, so righteous in concept,  and so violent in denunciation.