January 6--Amazing!--Part II

Matthew 5 is completely unAmerican, isn't it. Our culture is constantly telling us to "Stand up for your rights!" In fact, growing up in San Diego we have a newscaster, Michael Turko, whose sole job is to help people who are having problems with businesses or agencies and his slogan which he literally screams at you is, "It ain't right!"

How completely different then is what Jesus tells us. This passage is definitely what's called "hard teaching".

• 5:22--If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. If you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
• 5: 28--Anyone who even looks at a woman (or man if you in fact are a woman) with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
• 5:39--Do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
• 5:40--If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.
• 5:41--If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
• 5:44--Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!

A lot of times we tend to think, "Well, Jesus didn't really mean that. I mean, it's not right for someone to slap me!" Or in our culture of the quick comeback and witty insult, it seems almost natural to curse someone.

But that's the whole point isn't it. Jesus is asking us to stand out, to be light (5:14). In fact, he goes as far as to say "But you are to be perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect." (5:48)

Today serving in the children's ministry I was once again reminded of James 1:22: But don't just listen to God's Word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. How long have we been fooling ourselves, thinking we're doing great while insulting coworkers, complaining about how our "rights" have been violated and so forth. We are called to do and as we are finding out from God's Word, doing is dramatically different than what we're used to.