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Be Attitudes |
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by Tom Gilbert - © September,
2003
I’ve been grappling with the idea of
this article for a while now. I’m really not sure how
to go about it. I want to somehow convey the thoughts I have
about really living what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount.
I feel entirely inadequate.
And yet, the point I hope to make is in opposition to “feeling”
like I’m not up to the task. What Jesus taught is radical
and, yes it often seems unattainable. But, it is not. If I have
willingness, even just the attitude of willingness
and some open-mindedness then there is hope of my embracing
the Message.
Some people claim attitude is everything. I don’t know
about such an all encompassing statement. Still, attitude is
very important. If my attitude is negative then I am resisting
and fighting. I am not “tuned”, if you will, to
the proper frequency.
Other than a clever play on words, “Be the Attitude”
as an idea might hold some insight for us all on the Beatitudes
(). Can we find a way to “be” meek,
poor in spirit, peacemakers, and comforters? Can we truly “be”
satisfied when hungry; “be” pure in heart and especially
“be” able to feel blessed for the persecution that
surely comes?
So often I’ve interpreted these “blessed are…”
statements as pertaining to someone else or as something to
be attained in the future. Maybe internalizing these attitudes
so that I identify with them in myself, as well as others, can
provide inspiration and motivation to follow Jesus instead of
the wayward path the world encourages.
calls us to be the “salt of the earth”.
We are to flavor life with the attitude of Christ, to be the
very expression of divine love. If my attitude does not reflect
that I’m in danger of becoming salt that has lost its
flavor.
We are also called to be a light to others, or more correctly,
to reflect the light of God. There is something about being
around someone with a genuinely positive and loving attitude.
It rubs off. It positively glows. It has a powerful effect,
and a most beneficial one.
Nowhere does the message of the beatitudes imply a false, forced
or faked attitude of love. It’s not about being a Pollyanna.
Still, if it takes me “acting as if” to change my
attitude, then by all means I should. In fact, there is plenty
of evidence that just attempting to change our attitude starts
the process. So, even if I don’t feel like being loving
I can change that attitude by simply being willing to act loving.
Now, lest you think this is some psychological gimmick, remember
that it’s about being real, discovering the truth that
is disguised by our false interpretations. Very often when I
am angry, disturbed, and resentful or depressed it is not simply
because of situations or others. Every single time there is
also something about me that must be changed. One of our greatest
traps is to define God’s law (the essence of love) with
our limited understanding. I, for one, can easily define it
to fit what I’m comfortable with, even to the point of
good intentions.
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Going to Great Lengths
This must be why Jesus went to the lengths
he did to say that killing means more than inflicting physical
death. Anger kills. Adultery is more than the actual
physical sexual act with another’s spouse. Lust
is adultery.
These are hard sayings. Hard, because we all recognize how difficult
it is. Compromise is always the easier, softer way. We can even
be well-meaning and be guilty of wrongdoing. C. S. Lewis
put it so well, “the good is often the enemy of the best”.
Again, I come back to my attitude. If I can learn to really
see what my attitude is then I can change it. The help from
God’s loving Spirit is there and I must have that help
for lasting change in my attitudes to happen.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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