-By Pastor Mike Middaugh

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

You will recognize the quoted lines above as being the Beatitudes taught by Jesus.  This famous teaching comes at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5.  In the Beatitudes, which mean “saying of supreme blessedness”, Jesus lays out the norms of the Kingdom for his followers.  From this teaching I think we can identify three false gospels of our culture (and our hearts) which may offer short term happiness, but will never bring eternal joy.

1. Wealth

How many of us, if we are being honest, would not want more money?  How many of us know that we truly have a lot, and yet still we wish for more?  We are trained by our culture, and by the creeping greed of our hearts, to always want more and to never feel like we truly are rich. One reason for this is because we know how much some others have.  There is always finer clothing in stores other people shop at, a nicer car parked in someone else’s driveway, or a larger house in pictures we have seen.

But the Beatitudes teach that true blessing is given to the content and to those poor in spirit.  It is true that even the wealthy can be humble, even the rich can be meek, but often, the more we have, the more it consumes us.  Blessed are the poor in spirit for they will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

2. Comfort

How much of our time and money is spent on making sure we are comfortable?  We may not have ever had to go without eating because there simply was no money, we may not have ever known what it means to not have a place to sleep.  However, in many parts of the world, and for much of human history, basic needs are not always a given.  By and large we are comfortable in a basic sense, and yet we often spend even more energy making sure every imaginable want is met to the point that our issue is overeating, over drinking and over-lounging to the deficit of our own health.

The promise of the kingdom is not that we will always know comfort now.  We should never expect to get everything we want, this is true when it comes to sickness, disease and loss as well.  There will be days that we struggle through this life.  But the promise of the Beatitudes is that we are blessed by God as we look to him for help in the middle of discomfort.  Blessed are those who mourn, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be comforted.

3. Power and Fame 

True, power and fame could have been listed separately, but in our culture they are often connected.  It has never been easier than today to become famous (think youtube and viral media), and there has also never been so much power wielded by so few.  Power and fame are often the desires of our hearts.  We want to rise to the top.  We want to know we matter.  We envy those who seem to have it all and who can control so much of this world.

Yet we follow one who is known for having nothing.  The most famous man in all of history had no home, no bank account, no army, and no one by his side when he died.  He became isolated and alone as he took the punishment for the evil in our hearts.  He is well-known now, but for a time no one wanted to know him.  We should expect that our lives might not be easy, that we might not be the envy of the world. But the promise of the Beatitudes is blessing to those who are meek, hope for those who are merciful, and joy for those who are peacemakers.

Blessed are those whose hope is in the Lord.  True riches, true comfort and true power are found in him.

by Pastor Mike

My prayer for this new year is that Calvary would be a welcoming and open congregation ready to receive those in need of Christian community and the Gospel we believe. Just as importantly, I hope that all of us as individuals would be good friends, co-workers and neighbors reaching out to those around us, and when possible, expressing what our Christian faith means in our life.

One of the aspects of Christian faith that many struggle with, is how to share what they believe with those around them. Most Christians would quickly say they believe it is important to share their faith with others and many deeply desire to be involved in making new disciples, but the problem is, we often have trouble moving from abstract to action.One of the aspects of Christian faith that many struggle with, is how to share what they believe

So, here is a strategy for caring for those around you in a Christian way, and, when the time is right, sharing something about your faith. I will use the example of doing this in your own neighborhood, but you could apply it to co-workers, friends, or even family.

1. Get to know Your neighbors.

Sociologists have found that Americans are increasingly anonymous towards their neighbors – even those living right next door. Because of transience, busy lives, and the popularity of renting, especially in urban settings, many people never take the time to get to know those living around them. So the first step towards talking about your faith is simply to get to know those close by. Identify those people you have in mind – or a number of houses on your street – that you would like do a better job of caring for. Think about them regularly, begin to notice when they are outside, and gain an understanding of which cars and people belong to each house. Perhaps even make a list of the homes, or people you would like to do a better job of caring for.

2. Be Present

This point is perhaps the most obvious, but is so often overlooked. In order to care for and love anyone, we have to be present and available in their lives. If you never spend time in your neighborhood, you will probably never get to know your neighbors. By the same token, most of us are not good a building new relationships while we are watching TV. Consider how much time you spend outdoors, especially in the front of your house. Think about going on neighborhood walks more often (could knock out two New Year’s resolutions with one change, exercise is good!). Try to be present and familiar within the community you are tying to reach. An extension of this can be to make your home a more open place for others. Hospitality is one of the easiest ways to build relationships; as we open our doors others will open their lives.

3. Pray Over Your Goals

This applies to anything you want to accomplish this year, but especially those goals that involve being a part of God’s work. As Christians, spending time in prayer is a must, and praying for others in specific ways is a good regular habit. Even if you have no idea where to start with building new relationships, or sharing something about your faith, you can be in prayer for those around you. All of us have neighbors we can pray for, even if we don’t know their names. However, this becomes even more fun when you do get to know your neighbors better and you can begin actively praying for things happening in their lives. Life changes such as having a baby, illness, a job transition, or losing a loved one, are all opportunities to be in prayer for others. Even consider asking “Can I pray for you about that?” Life changes are also conversation starters as it gives you an opportunity to follow up in the future and ask how “such and such” is going.

4. Go Deeper

This step is usually the hardest for all of us. As we build relationships with other people the temptation is to keep it shallow. We are good at talking about sports, the weather, and the lovely politics of our city, but we are not very good at going deeper in the relationship. (Some of us avoid it like the plague because it requires an emotional investment.) But as relationships grow and people become more comfortable around each other, there will often be an opening to do more. Going deeper allows us to really practice Christ-like care and concern for those around us. It is the difference between small talk on the curb, and taking over a meal when a life change has occurred. Going deeper also allows us to get to know the heart of those we are caring for. What is most important in their lives? What are their fears and joys? Do they have a solid social network or church they attend, or, could they be longing for community and all they need is an invitation? Just like that you have found an opportunity to invite them to join you for a church event, or for worship.

As we reach out to those around us, we are not thinking of others as targets who need us to help them or convert them. Instead, we are looking for ways to open our lives so that God might use us to be a blessing to others. In this way, God continues to carry out his Great Commission, and he just might use us to do it.