FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022 - FOLLOWING A RADICAL

 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022, FOLLOWING A RADICAL

On Fridays, I write about spiritual things.  Today I’m writing about a radical.
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Over the centuries there have been real radicals.  My philosophy follows a first-century Jewish Radical Rabbi.

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Statement:  If somebody hits you - you:

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Conventional wisdom says to hit them back. Throw a left jab to their nose.  Kick them in the groin.   If they are bigger than you are (like  a bully), you even out the odds by using a gun

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Radical wisdom says “If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also.  

What foolishness that is. Get them back - you know “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.

Basically, they hit you once, give them a chance to hit you again.  Even encourage them to hit you again - on the other side(Huh?)

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Statement: If somebody takes your coat - you:

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Conventional wisdom says - grab it back, grab their coat, take anything of theirs you can get
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Radical wisdom says “ If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.”

Huh - they just TOOK your coat and now you are giving them your shirt?  Are you going to give them your pants and shoes too?

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Statement: If somebody asks you for money - you:
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Conventional wisdom says - don’t give them anything.  After all, you (we) had to work hard for where we are at.  We have bills, taxes, mortgage and car payments, and much more.  We’ve learned how to say ‘no’ in a graceful manner.
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Radical wisdom goes on: “ Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

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Karen has to interject on this one.  I get asked for money (aka “help”/”support”) daily.  My church expects me to give them money (they might even call it a tithe - or 10%).  My government expects me to give them money (they call it ‘taxes’). My colleges ask for money.  My favorite charities ask for money - and even my less favorite charities ask for money.  Political groups ask me for money.  Panhandlers on street corners asking for money.  

And, there are those who don’t ask for money - that I know need money.  I should give to the homeless, the destitute, the shut-ins, those stuck in poverty.  If I gave money to everybody who asks for it, I’d be broke.  

But generosity does not come at the risk of future poverty. On the contrary, generosity is the route to PREVENT future deprivation. “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of every­thing, you may share abundantly in every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8)

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Statement: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you

Conventional wisdom.  (Excuse me, I’m doubling up in laughter - love my enemies?  What a joke!!  Do good to those that hate you?  Your first-century Jewish rabbi is not a radical, he is a moran.  Sorry - I’m going to love those that love me, and I’m still going to hate those who hate me).

Radical Wisdom:  Hey love wins.  If you want to stop the hate in the world, you need to be a lover - and a great place to start is by loving your enemies - that is love those that you don’t want to love.  If you win them over to being a friend, that’s great, and if they still hate you after you love them - that’s their problem, not yours!!!

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Statement: Do to others as you would have them do to you.
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Conventional wisdom.  Ignore them and they will ignore you.  

How about quid pro quo? Quid pro quo is a Latin phrase used in English to mean an exchange of goods or services, in which one transfer is contingent upon the other; "a favor for a favor". So, if I give you a present (or even if I am nice to you), I can expect you to give me a present (or be nice to me). 
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Radical Wisdom:  Hold it - you are doing this without any real expectation of getting anything back.  Be nice to others - regardless of whether they are nice to you or not.  Don’t expect anything in return!!!   (This radical Jewish rabbi of the first century seems to suggest that the more you give away the more God will bless you!!!)

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The final statement for today:  Forgive others, don’t judge others
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Conventional Wisdom:  Hold grudges - don’t forgive until the other person apologizes.  Slap labels on people - white, black, Asian, Indian, etc.  Slap more labels - liberal, conservative, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, and more.  Labels, judging, and refusing to forgive are parts of modern society.
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Radical Wisdom:  Forgive others - and you will be forgiven.  Forgiving frequently means I’m let out of a prison that I built!!!  

Who am I to judge?  I’m surely not perfect!!  So, can I call the President a moron?  Can I call my governor stupid?  Can I think my neighbor is an idiot?  No - judging is a sign of hating - and I am to LOVE EVERYBODY - and in particular in today’s blog - I am to love my enemies!!!

Oh, this is based on Luke Chapter 6:

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 

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LOVE WINS!!

Karen
February 25, 2022