The “Be” Attitudes
There are two things a pastor hopes to do at the beginning of a sermon. First, grab the attention of the listeners, the congregation. Second, introduce the message enough to keep their attention. God alone knows whether Jesus had those intentions in mind when He began the Sermon on the Mount, but His beginning certainly fulfills those hopes.
The sermon begins with what we call the Beatitudes. Jesus spells out what He hopes His followers will be. Jesus is a new “prophet.” People are clinging to his every word, hoping he will begin Israel’s deliverance from Roman bondage.
The Christian life involves both being and doing. It seems to me, we “good” Baptists have emphasized doing far more than being, much to our own chagrin. In his book, “The Divine Conspiracy,” Dallas Willard suggests Christians have a problem with the “connection” words of the beatitudes. For example, we read them as though they are cause and effect. Cause and effect may not have been Jesus’ intent.
Let us look at them singularly, for example. Instead of reading, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God;” just read, “Blessed are the pure in heart.” I have compiled a list to see how it sounds:
Blessed are the poor in spirit.
Blessed are those who (can) mourn.
Blessed are the meek.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are the pure in heart.
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Blessed are those persecuted because of righteousness.
When one reads that list thinking this is what I want to “be” rather than this is what I want to “do,” it has an entirely different “ring.”
Think about it. Being is much more difficult than doing. Doing always has a beginning and an end. Being never ends. Listen to the difference in these sentences: This is what I want to do. This is what I want to be.
Google defines beatitudes as supreme blessedness. Whether that is an adequate definition, I do not know. However, I am certain if we will be what the beatitudes suggest, we will be supremely blessed.
