Acceptance

It’s hard to read the Sermon on the Mount in today’s environment. You get the feeling that America has drifted as far away from the spirit and intent of the world’s most famous sermon as it can get.

And I’m not talking about the freethinkers, non-religious, agnostics, secular humanists, or even atheists. The ones I know generally follow the advice of the Galilean by being more righteous say that a Franklin Graham, Joel Osteen, or Kenneth Copeland.

I’m talking about those who wear their religion on their sleeves while spouting their hatred into your face. They do love their cliches and explanations.

Let’s take and early example, Matthew 5:3. It’s reported that the Galilean simply said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

Huh? If we take the most common translation of the Greek word for “blessed,” it means “happy.” So, we are supposed to be happy to be poor in spirit? Worse still, are we supposed to be, as it is stated in Luke, happy to be poor, period?

Let’s look at extremes. Perhaps an overabundance of spirit could be considered improper. That might make you judgmental even. One might, on becoming too filled with the spirit, attempt to filch the privilege of judging others from the Almighty himself.

Or one might become a pompous ass from an overabundance of spirit, following no rules of decent behavior except those that support greed, power, and self-aggrandizement.

Or one might become a follower and worshiper of a pompous ass, giving them an authority that is the very foundation of destruction.

One might even believe and become accepting of the evil spewing and deeds of a pompous ass.

It’s starting to come clear now. If we are poor in something, we are like an empty, or partially empty, vessel with room to grow in acceptance of grace. Could that be the point at which the Galilean was aiming?

It certainly is better than the explanation offered by a theological representative of the group we refer to now as the “one-percenters.” He said one should be happy to be poor on Earth, that is, not to resent those who are rich here. You will be rich in heaven and that should be enough.

More righteous than the pharisees. Yeah.