Jesus: Turn the other cheek.
Americans: Favorite Wrestler - "The Cheek Turner"
Jesus: Judge not, and you will not be judged
Americans: Judge first, because first is better than second.
Jesus: Give to the one who begs from you.
Americans: Take away what dignity the beggar has.
Jesus: If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Americans: Never let anyone force you to carpool to save mileage.
Jesus: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Americans: Pitied are the pacifists, for we will make them look like sons of wimps.
Jesus: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Americans: Hate your enemies and pray that our government will persecute them.
Jesus: When you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you.
Americans: Make sure you write it off on your taxes.
Jesus: Give us this day our daily bread.
Americans: Buy in bulk and save money.
Jesus: Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
Americans: Build wealth.
Jesus: Seek the kingdom first.
Americans: Seek money first so you can throw more money at the church.
Jesus: Don't worry about tomorrow.
Americans: Prepare for retirement.
Jesus: Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Americans: Lead others the way that makes you a more prominent leader.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
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you could quite possibly take every statement in the Sermon on the Mount and juxtapose every American philosophy (or any kingdom of this world philosophy for that matter).
ReplyDeleteAll nations, in order to survive as nations as we know them, cannot follow the teachings of Jesus. I'm not saying that this is wrong. I'm simply saying that this is the way that it is.
Leo Tolstoy would take it a step further and even say that church as we know it cannot follow the Sermon on the Mount in order to exist as churches as we know them. He states that you have to decide to follow Creed or the Sermon on the Mount. You cannot follow both.
But, Jesus has already said that you can't serve both God and Mammon which breaks down a lot of this discussion to a very simple statement.