Many apologies for my absence from the blog. Just not available for a while. I posted a comment Susan sent in. Like Susan, I too, have been enriched by the writing of Dallas Willard. He has been very influential in my spiritual development. Thank you for your feedback. I do enjoy hearing from each of you, even though my response time is often delayed.
I'll explain what we're doing, and then on to book 3.
I have participated in a project sponsored by a publisher to name "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." So, I've asked for input, and am grateful to those of you who contributed. This is truly an impossible assignment, but has been surprisingly rich to pursue. My part was to only submit 5 titles to be considered by the editors. I could probably come up with ten more lists of five books that are all equally excellent. I don't expect any of my selections to make the elite 25 simply because there are so many from which to choose. These, however, have made a difference for me.
So, here is my second book of the five, along with the explanation of why I chose it. These are books I think can be especially helpful to those seeking to follow Jesus. I would be glad to hear from you about other titles that are important to you or comments on my own submissions.
Kelly, Thomas R. A Testament of Devotion. New York, New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1941.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? Kelly offers an enticing invitation to answer Christ’s knock at the door. He reminds me eloquently and convincingly that a life of heeding the Spirit is at hand.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Kelly draws the contemporary reader into the sweetness, simplicity, and urgency of holy obedience. Testament is a twentieth-century Sacrament of the Present Moment.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Attentiveness. Kelly kindly tells us to be still and listen; God is speaking.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Kelly considers attentive and obedient men and women to be the hope of restoring the Church to the dynamic force in culture God intends her to be.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? Read and converse with companions on the journey. His invitation is personal and communal. Kelly’s well-chosen words are few. They deserve a thoughtful and prayerful reading.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “The life that intends to be wholly obedient, wholly submissive, wholly listening is astonishing in its completeness. Its joys are ravishing, its peace profound, its humility the deepest, its power world-shaking, its love enveloping, its simplicity that of a trusting child.” p. 54, Harper & Brothers, 1941.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
#2/5 Five Books That Are Mighty Close to Must Reads
OK, this is 2/5. Here's my intro to explain what I'm up to. Of course, you can scroll back through the blogs to pick up preceding installments.
I have participated in a project sponsored by a publisher to name "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." So, I've asked for input, and am grateful to those of you who contributed. This is truly an impossible assignment, but has been surprisingly rich to pursue. My part was to only submit 5 titles to be considered by the editors. I could probably come up with ten more lists of five books that are all equally excellent. I don't expect any of my selections to make the elite 25 simply because there are so many from which to choose. These, however, have made a difference for me.
So, here is my second book of the five, along with the explanation of why I chose it. These are books I think can be especially helpful to those seeking to follow Jesus. I would be glad to hear from you about other titles that are important to you or comments on my own submissions.
CO
Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. Harrisburg, PS: Christian Publications, 1948.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? Tozer addresses me as a compromised believer and pulls no punches. He delivers a strident call to the Church and Christians to abandon shallow discipleship. His eyes seem to see into my soul. He helps me stop kidding myself.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? I number him among the very few authors I would describe as prophetic. Amazingly, his prophetic word retains its edge after sixty years.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Tozer delivers a no frills, back to the basics message relevant for Christians in the age of mass media shtick. He delineates a life of surrender for work-a-day believers. His message is a clarion call to take God for Who He is, rather than what we might get out of Him.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Tozer is a modern day Isaiah calling the Church out of hypocrisy and pathetic imitations of the genuine Gospel.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? This book makes an excellent personal or group study for those who are ready to address the beam in their own eyes and respond in repentance.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “Now we have reached a low place of sand and burnt wire grass and, worst of all, we have made the Word of Truth conform to our experience and accepted this low plane as the very pasture of the blessed.” p.70.
I have participated in a project sponsored by a publisher to name "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." So, I've asked for input, and am grateful to those of you who contributed. This is truly an impossible assignment, but has been surprisingly rich to pursue. My part was to only submit 5 titles to be considered by the editors. I could probably come up with ten more lists of five books that are all equally excellent. I don't expect any of my selections to make the elite 25 simply because there are so many from which to choose. These, however, have made a difference for me.
So, here is my second book of the five, along with the explanation of why I chose it. These are books I think can be especially helpful to those seeking to follow Jesus. I would be glad to hear from you about other titles that are important to you or comments on my own submissions.
CO
Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. Harrisburg, PS: Christian Publications, 1948.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? Tozer addresses me as a compromised believer and pulls no punches. He delivers a strident call to the Church and Christians to abandon shallow discipleship. His eyes seem to see into my soul. He helps me stop kidding myself.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? I number him among the very few authors I would describe as prophetic. Amazingly, his prophetic word retains its edge after sixty years.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Tozer delivers a no frills, back to the basics message relevant for Christians in the age of mass media shtick. He delineates a life of surrender for work-a-day believers. His message is a clarion call to take God for Who He is, rather than what we might get out of Him.
• What does it offer the larger Church? Tozer is a modern day Isaiah calling the Church out of hypocrisy and pathetic imitations of the genuine Gospel.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? This book makes an excellent personal or group study for those who are ready to address the beam in their own eyes and respond in repentance.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “Now we have reached a low place of sand and burnt wire grass and, worst of all, we have made the Word of Truth conform to our experience and accepted this low plane as the very pasture of the blessed.” p.70.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
5 Books That Are Mighty Close to "Must Reads"
I have participated in a project sponsored by a publisher to name "25 Books Every Christian Should Read." So, I've asked for input, and am grateful to those of you who contributed. This is truly an impossible assignment, but has been surprisingly rich to pursue. My part was to only submit 5 titles to be considered by the editors. I could probably come up with ten more lists of five books that are all equally excellent. I don't expect any of my selections to make the elite 25 simply because there are so many from which to choose. These, however, have made a difference for me.
So, here is my first book of the five, along with the explanation of why I chose it. These are books I think can be especially helpful to those seeking to follow Jesus. I would be glad to hear from you about other titles that are important to you or comments on my own submissions.
CO
Nouwen, Henri. Jesus: A Gospel. Edited by Michael O’Laughlin, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? This book captures the essence of Nouwen’s genius. Reading it is like having Henri share with me what he has learned from a lifetime of following Jesus.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Nouwen leads the reader into the profoundness of life in Christ. He does so with such accessible language and examples. The use of Rembrandt sketches provides a rich visual complement to the text. Consequently, text and illustrations engage the whole person in the message.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Nouwen shows us the way to meet God most intimately. He quietly walks with us into our rooms of fear and insecurity – those places where God is not allowed. And there to our surprise Jesus is waiting to embrace us.
• What does it offer the larger Church? This book is a wonderful foundation for rightly understanding the message of Jesus. The arrangement of Nouwen’s insights around Gospel passages properly lifts both the message of the Gospels and the person of Jesus above religiosity and into the heart of God.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? The book lends itself best to a reflective reading, enhanced with journaling or careful conversation. Take each brief chapter and digest it thoroughly before moving on to the next. Let the Gospel message work on you.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “I deeply know that I have a home in Jesus, just as Jesus has a home in God…. My true spiritual work is to let myself be loved, fully and completely, and to trust that in that love I will come to the fulfillment of my vocation. I keep trying to bring my wandering, restless, anxious self home, so that I can rest there in the embrace of love.” p.93.
So, here is my first book of the five, along with the explanation of why I chose it. These are books I think can be especially helpful to those seeking to follow Jesus. I would be glad to hear from you about other titles that are important to you or comments on my own submissions.
CO
Nouwen, Henri. Jesus: A Gospel. Edited by Michael O’Laughlin, Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2001.
• What is your personal relationship to this book? How has it helped you? This book captures the essence of Nouwen’s genius. Reading it is like having Henri share with me what he has learned from a lifetime of following Jesus.
• Why does it make your list of top formation/discipleship titles? Nouwen leads the reader into the profoundness of life in Christ. He does so with such accessible language and examples. The use of Rembrandt sketches provides a rich visual complement to the text. Consequently, text and illustrations engage the whole person in the message.
• What does the book add to your idea of what it means to be a modern-day Christian? Nouwen shows us the way to meet God most intimately. He quietly walks with us into our rooms of fear and insecurity – those places where God is not allowed. And there to our surprise Jesus is waiting to embrace us.
• What does it offer the larger Church? This book is a wonderful foundation for rightly understanding the message of Jesus. The arrangement of Nouwen’s insights around Gospel passages properly lifts both the message of the Gospels and the person of Jesus above religiosity and into the heart of God.
• What specific advice on content or strategy would you provide to someone reading the book for the first time? The book lends itself best to a reflective reading, enhanced with journaling or careful conversation. Take each brief chapter and digest it thoroughly before moving on to the next. Let the Gospel message work on you.
• What passage do you feel most exemplifies the message of the book? “I deeply know that I have a home in Jesus, just as Jesus has a home in God…. My true spiritual work is to let myself be loved, fully and completely, and to trust that in that love I will come to the fulfillment of my vocation. I keep trying to bring my wandering, restless, anxious self home, so that I can rest there in the embrace of love.” p.93.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Must Reads
I'm part of a group of people asked to compile a list of 25 books every Christian should read. That sounds like an intriguing, albeit, impossible challenge. I could use some help. Send me a title or two that you have found to be must reading.
I find some help by thinking in categories.
Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal is so good on forgiveness and acceptance.
Lewis' The Problem of Pain addresses the universal questions about pain and suffering.
Lewis' novel Perelandra paints such a strong picture of the awesome goodness of God's creation, the horrid ugliness of human pride, and the painful beauty of redemption.
Fosters Celebration of Discipline introduces the reader to the grace of spiritual discipline and a host of references to great Christian writing over the centuries.
Tozier's The Pursuit of God is simply inspiring.
I can list others, especially older books, that have mattered to me, but are challenging for the modern reader to tackle. Do I list those? Well, I'm not sure.
So, please give me some help. Send me some titles that you think every believer should read.
Thanks,
CO
I find some help by thinking in categories.
Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal is so good on forgiveness and acceptance.
Lewis' The Problem of Pain addresses the universal questions about pain and suffering.
Lewis' novel Perelandra paints such a strong picture of the awesome goodness of God's creation, the horrid ugliness of human pride, and the painful beauty of redemption.
Fosters Celebration of Discipline introduces the reader to the grace of spiritual discipline and a host of references to great Christian writing over the centuries.
Tozier's The Pursuit of God is simply inspiring.
I can list others, especially older books, that have mattered to me, but are challenging for the modern reader to tackle. Do I list those? Well, I'm not sure.
So, please give me some help. Send me some titles that you think every believer should read.
Thanks,
CO
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Promises
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)
It is possible to read this passage with a self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude. OR, read it with the opposite, which is maybe a self-condemning, more-shameful-than-thou attitude. Either way likely leads to missing the whole point.
The plain fact is that there is some twisted, misled, even dark, stuff going on all around us that you and I are aware of. Call it what you will, it is something other than the goodness and wholeness of God.
The truly good and amazing news is there is a better way that is fully accessibly through the promises of God. These promises are the doorway through which we walk to "participate in the divine nature." How good is that!
Chime in and share a promise, and I'll get 'em posted.
I think I'll start with 2Peter 1:3-4 above. It is a promise of promises.
CO
It is possible to read this passage with a self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude. OR, read it with the opposite, which is maybe a self-condemning, more-shameful-than-thou attitude. Either way likely leads to missing the whole point.
The plain fact is that there is some twisted, misled, even dark, stuff going on all around us that you and I are aware of. Call it what you will, it is something other than the goodness and wholeness of God.
The truly good and amazing news is there is a better way that is fully accessibly through the promises of God. These promises are the doorway through which we walk to "participate in the divine nature." How good is that!
Chime in and share a promise, and I'll get 'em posted.
I think I'll start with 2Peter 1:3-4 above. It is a promise of promises.
CO
Monday, July 19, 2010
Friends and Aliens
An expert in the Bible asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The punch line of this familiar parable is that the one who was truly a neighbor was the one who had mercy on the man in need. This is not a difficult parable to understand. Its application, however, can get complicated.
During the current conversation about immigration policy the question is on the table before us, “What does it mean to be a neighbor to the immigrant population?” The question is further complicated because our neighbors include both immigrants with and without proper legal status. Our neighbors also include both naturalized and birthright citizens. It’s quite a neighborhood. Now what?
Interest groups and the media tend to polarize positions and stage yet another shouting match. It is hard to imagine how that will help the neighborhood. As salt and light in the world the followers of Jesus are advocates of justice and compassion. This is a very difficult place to stand, but it is the only one that offers the hope of shalom for our neighborhoods (from next door neighbors, to cities, to a nation).
I am challenging us as Friends of Jesus to be advocates of mercy and justice in this conversation. Whether the conversation is among friends, in the workplace, at an immigration rally, on a website, or in a senator’s office, we will actually be Friends of Jesus if we advocate for justice and mercy.
I’ve become involved with a group of people working to a similar end. We are concerned about our neighborhood (our block, our state, our nation). As followers of Jesus we want to be a voice of mercy and justice. We hardly know where to begin except we must because mercy and justice need a voice. We’ve drafted a document to share with our senators and representatives. I am very interested in feedback on this document that is intended to stake out some territory for mercy and justice simultaneously. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for your help. Here is the statement:
A Call to Our Government to Enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform
As Evangelical Christian leaders in Denver’s Metro area, we express to you our deep concern over our country’s broken immigration system. Because of our shared theology, which compels us to love, care for, and seek justice for the stranger among us, we call on our nation’s Congress and President to address this issue immediately. We believe:
• That all people are made in the image of God. As such, they are worthy of dignity and respect and have much to contribute to the common good.
• That as Christians we have a responsibility to love and show compassion for the stranger among us.
• That immigrants are our neighbors, both literally and figuratively. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and show mercy to neighbors in need.
• In the rule of law and that Christians are to be a voice within our democracy for just laws that protect all people, especially the vulnerable.
We recognize that the current United States immigration system is limited and reform is necessary. The Bible does not offer a blueprint for modern legislation, but it can serve as a moral compass to help shape the tone, content, and purposes of contemporary laws. Using the Bible as our guide, we are compelled to support immigration reform legislation that includes the following elements:
• Secure Borders – A fundamental responsibility of the government is to secure its borders. We must improve safeguards and the monitoring of our national borders. Enforcement of our borders must reflect our deeply-held American values of due process of law, the sanctity of the human person, and the incomparable value of the family.
• Immigrant Labor – Various sectors of the American economy rely on the labor of immigrants. Laws and quotas should more accurately reflect this need and provide for the legal entry each year of a viable number of immigrant workers and their families.
• Path to Legality - Millions of undocumented immigrants live in the shadows of our country today. The present state of affairs does not allow them to flourish as constructive members in society nor does it serve the common good. A rigorous yet fair process needs to be established, requiring them to register with the appropriate authorities, embrace their civic responsibilities, and earn the privileges of legal status, for example: permanent residency, citizenship, work permit.
• Centrality of the Family – Immigration reform should reflect the central importance of the family. This commitment can be made concrete by reconsidering the number of visas available for family reunification, by dedicating resources to reduce the backlog of cases presently in process, and by acknowledging the negative impact of current deportation policies.
We urge our national representatives to re-engage the immigration reform debate in a civil and respectful manner. We emphasize the need for a national solution. We eagerly offer our time, energy, and ideas so that the current discussion might move toward greater understanding within our nation and constructive resolution through new legislation. We look forward to working together to find common ground on this critical issue.
During the current conversation about immigration policy the question is on the table before us, “What does it mean to be a neighbor to the immigrant population?” The question is further complicated because our neighbors include both immigrants with and without proper legal status. Our neighbors also include both naturalized and birthright citizens. It’s quite a neighborhood. Now what?
Interest groups and the media tend to polarize positions and stage yet another shouting match. It is hard to imagine how that will help the neighborhood. As salt and light in the world the followers of Jesus are advocates of justice and compassion. This is a very difficult place to stand, but it is the only one that offers the hope of shalom for our neighborhoods (from next door neighbors, to cities, to a nation).
I am challenging us as Friends of Jesus to be advocates of mercy and justice in this conversation. Whether the conversation is among friends, in the workplace, at an immigration rally, on a website, or in a senator’s office, we will actually be Friends of Jesus if we advocate for justice and mercy.
I’ve become involved with a group of people working to a similar end. We are concerned about our neighborhood (our block, our state, our nation). As followers of Jesus we want to be a voice of mercy and justice. We hardly know where to begin except we must because mercy and justice need a voice. We’ve drafted a document to share with our senators and representatives. I am very interested in feedback on this document that is intended to stake out some territory for mercy and justice simultaneously. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks for your help. Here is the statement:
A Call to Our Government to Enact Comprehensive Immigration Reform
As Evangelical Christian leaders in Denver’s Metro area, we express to you our deep concern over our country’s broken immigration system. Because of our shared theology, which compels us to love, care for, and seek justice for the stranger among us, we call on our nation’s Congress and President to address this issue immediately. We believe:
• That all people are made in the image of God. As such, they are worthy of dignity and respect and have much to contribute to the common good.
• That as Christians we have a responsibility to love and show compassion for the stranger among us.
• That immigrants are our neighbors, both literally and figuratively. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves and show mercy to neighbors in need.
• In the rule of law and that Christians are to be a voice within our democracy for just laws that protect all people, especially the vulnerable.
We recognize that the current United States immigration system is limited and reform is necessary. The Bible does not offer a blueprint for modern legislation, but it can serve as a moral compass to help shape the tone, content, and purposes of contemporary laws. Using the Bible as our guide, we are compelled to support immigration reform legislation that includes the following elements:
• Secure Borders – A fundamental responsibility of the government is to secure its borders. We must improve safeguards and the monitoring of our national borders. Enforcement of our borders must reflect our deeply-held American values of due process of law, the sanctity of the human person, and the incomparable value of the family.
• Immigrant Labor – Various sectors of the American economy rely on the labor of immigrants. Laws and quotas should more accurately reflect this need and provide for the legal entry each year of a viable number of immigrant workers and their families.
• Path to Legality - Millions of undocumented immigrants live in the shadows of our country today. The present state of affairs does not allow them to flourish as constructive members in society nor does it serve the common good. A rigorous yet fair process needs to be established, requiring them to register with the appropriate authorities, embrace their civic responsibilities, and earn the privileges of legal status, for example: permanent residency, citizenship, work permit.
• Centrality of the Family – Immigration reform should reflect the central importance of the family. This commitment can be made concrete by reconsidering the number of visas available for family reunification, by dedicating resources to reduce the backlog of cases presently in process, and by acknowledging the negative impact of current deportation policies.
We urge our national representatives to re-engage the immigration reform debate in a civil and respectful manner. We emphasize the need for a national solution. We eagerly offer our time, energy, and ideas so that the current discussion might move toward greater understanding within our nation and constructive resolution through new legislation. We look forward to working together to find common ground on this critical issue.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Pursuit of Happiness
After an extended absence I return to the virtual land to post a blog. There is evidence that I may have inadvertently deleted someone's comment. I apologize if I did so. Your input matters to me, as does posting it to share with others.
‘Tis the season for my annual plug to read the Declaration of Independence and/or the Constitution. You can read part of the Declaration now:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Although the right to pursue happiness is not listed in the Constitution it does carry legal weight. It is defined as “the right to pursue any legal activity as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others,” (Webster’s New World Law Dictionary). The legal minds behind that definition were not concerned about how one pursues happiness just as long as it doesn’t interfere with someone else’s pursuit. The application of that principle has proved a little tricky. So, the value of the pursuit of happiness endures, while we struggle to know how to do it. How do we pursue happiness?
Jefferson wrote the phrase in the Declaration, but didn’t invent it. It was a phrase being batted about by thinkers of the day including two as diverse as Dr. Samuel Johnson and John Locke. Johnson observed that his country (England) was lacking in what he called, “civil wisdom.” He wrote, “We are still so much unacquainted with our own state, and so unskillful in the pursuit of happiness….” (The Surprising Origins and Meaning of the “Pursuit of Happiness”, Carol V. Hamilton, George Mason University’s History News Network, 1-28-2007). Two and a quarter centuries later Johnson would likely conclude we still lack civil wisdom. Isn’t it also true that we remain unacquainted with our own state, and unskillful in the pursuit of happiness?
Jesus didn’t have a lot to say about civics. (Or did He?) He did say quite a bit about the pursuit of happiness. One place we find that teaching is in Matthew 5:1-12. These verses include The Beatitudes, such as: Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. The word translated “blessed” could also be translated “happy.” Some Bible translations do so: Happy are the poor in spirit. Happy are the merciful. Happy are the pure in heart.
Although we think “happy” is often used to describe something superficial, the pursuit of happiness matters a great deal. In nearly all of Jesus’ teaching He addresses the very things Johnson said we lack: Jesus acquaints us with our own state and describes how to pursue happiness. That is worth some serious reflection. I recommend we take time to be grateful to God that the pursuit of happiness is a nationally preserved value. Simultaneously, I recommend a reflection on at least the Beatitudes to help us consider how Jesus is telling us to pursue and find that happiness.
The pursuit of happiness detailed by Jesus works. It is for every person. It is usually legal.
Pastor Chuck
‘Tis the season for my annual plug to read the Declaration of Independence and/or the Constitution. You can read part of the Declaration now:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Although the right to pursue happiness is not listed in the Constitution it does carry legal weight. It is defined as “the right to pursue any legal activity as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others,” (Webster’s New World Law Dictionary). The legal minds behind that definition were not concerned about how one pursues happiness just as long as it doesn’t interfere with someone else’s pursuit. The application of that principle has proved a little tricky. So, the value of the pursuit of happiness endures, while we struggle to know how to do it. How do we pursue happiness?
Jefferson wrote the phrase in the Declaration, but didn’t invent it. It was a phrase being batted about by thinkers of the day including two as diverse as Dr. Samuel Johnson and John Locke. Johnson observed that his country (England) was lacking in what he called, “civil wisdom.” He wrote, “We are still so much unacquainted with our own state, and so unskillful in the pursuit of happiness….” (The Surprising Origins and Meaning of the “Pursuit of Happiness”, Carol V. Hamilton, George Mason University’s History News Network, 1-28-2007). Two and a quarter centuries later Johnson would likely conclude we still lack civil wisdom. Isn’t it also true that we remain unacquainted with our own state, and unskillful in the pursuit of happiness?
Jesus didn’t have a lot to say about civics. (Or did He?) He did say quite a bit about the pursuit of happiness. One place we find that teaching is in Matthew 5:1-12. These verses include The Beatitudes, such as: Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. The word translated “blessed” could also be translated “happy.” Some Bible translations do so: Happy are the poor in spirit. Happy are the merciful. Happy are the pure in heart.
Although we think “happy” is often used to describe something superficial, the pursuit of happiness matters a great deal. In nearly all of Jesus’ teaching He addresses the very things Johnson said we lack: Jesus acquaints us with our own state and describes how to pursue happiness. That is worth some serious reflection. I recommend we take time to be grateful to God that the pursuit of happiness is a nationally preserved value. Simultaneously, I recommend a reflection on at least the Beatitudes to help us consider how Jesus is telling us to pursue and find that happiness.
The pursuit of happiness detailed by Jesus works. It is for every person. It is usually legal.
Pastor Chuck
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