The puzzle of pure-heartedness

Are not the pure in heart that Jesus blessed naive and foolish? How can a pure hearted person survive in the real world? The Greek for pure in Matthew 5:1-12 is used elsewhere to mean clean after having taken a bath (John 13:10). The Pharisees thought that they were righteous if they were clean on the outside. Jesus corrected them by saying that being clean or pure in the eyes of God begins on the inside. It has nothing to do with naivety and yet everything to do with innocence. There is a world of difference. The pure in heart can be wise as serpents and yet remain harmless as doves. Their intent is for good and without pretense. They carry no malice or dishonesty in their hearts. How can the real world survive without such blessed people!

How can love be the answer

When things go terribly wrong in this world and terrorists strike or nutty foreign leaders threaten, vengeance and acts of aggression seem to be the answer. Jesus’ instruction to love our enemies seems terribly naive and impractical. Yet, in the midst of being betrayed by close friends who denied even knowing him, and being brutally murdered for daring to preach good news of a better world, his practical solution was forgiveness and love. Let’s take the Israelis and Palestinians. What solution have their unending rounds of retaliation provided? None. They have brought no peaceful solution. Military and business warfare have not brought about peace or solved economic troubles. Love and mutual respect are not the rules of Wall Street. Yet, Christians are called to live as examples of the only practical solution to this world’s problems, love (John 13:31-35).

Living in denial of denial

When someone betrays our trust in them of granting them citizenship by terrorizing and bombing us, we tend to act in denial that such things will happen. When someone turns their back on us denying our human dignity and right to live peaceful lives, we act in denial that such denials will exist. Perhaps it is time we face facts. In this world we will have troubles (John 16:33). How can we combat such horror, by perpetrating even greater injustices? By lashing out in anger? By bombing countries far and wide in an effort to eradicate things which will not disappear until Christ returns? Perhaps that is why Jesus said that instead of trying to erase the unerasable, or denying the undeniable, or perpetuating the betrayal of one another, we should consider an alternative answer, love (John 13:31-35).

Betrayal, Denial, Footwashing and Love

In the context of Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial and Jesus’ footwashing is the new command to love one another (John 13:31-35). Churches are filled with imperfect humanity and the weaknesses and mistakes that come with the territory. Every church will likely experience some form of betrayal especially of its leaders. Pastors know that being verbally crucified is part of their job description. Some people will also deny that Christ is in the membership of a local church. Yet in the midst of all this is also footwashing, where people serve each other in love. We Christians are a strange mixture of denial, betrayal and love. That’s the way it has always been. Betrayal and denial also exist outside the church. But, real pure love from heaven can only be found in one place as testimony to where God is.

Easiest and most difficult

What proves where God’s people are? Is it a keeping of the “right” rules of church doctrine? In John 13:31-35 Jesus discussed one of the most important of his teachings: love one another. It is evidence of who we are. It is one of the easiest doctrines to understand and most difficult to practice. None of us loves perfectly, yet we can and do love. It is also very difficult at times. The introduction to this topic is the act of washing one another’s feet. I have witnessed churches that do this literally, but never lift a finger to help their neighbors and other churches that do not literally wash feet but obey what it portrays. Jesus would not have asked us to do the impossible. It is possible and Jesus taught that love is the most important commandment.

The Big Yawn

When a descendant of oppressors of dozens of countries around the world gets married why are people even interested? Though their ancestors tried to write only glorious family histories, the truth has slipped through. A house that has plundered many nations now wants us to celebrate a family wedding. In modern Democratic culture suppression of the truth no longer works, but propaganda does. Just as Stockholm syndrome causes kidnap victims to have affection for their kidnappers, so too there is a strange affection of a subject people for their oppressors. The only king who willingly gave up his wealth, got dirty and died for his people is a big yawn to many so deceived. When we realize how wonderful the King of Kings really is, then the big yawn will be for the royalty of this world (John 13:1-35).

Real Christians Get Dirty

Basic
Stained Glass Making

Stained glass windows can be very beautiful and are very expensive. Church furniture can be luxurious and enormously costly. Many church services in wealthy western countries are fashion parades of opulence and grandeur. In such a setting it may be hard to imagine the church service that Jesus performed at that Passover season before his death. It was a dirty ceremony, totally without the pomp and majesty of a grand cathedral. Jesus took off his robe and wrapped himself in a towel to wash feet (John 13:1-35). There is no sin in splendor and pageantry. The is plenty of that to be read about in the temple and heaven. However, that is not the core of Christianity. At the very heart of our faith is service in love for others. Love for neighbor is where real Christians get dirty.

Real Leaders Get Dirty

Foot-washing pan

As we watch royalty or other wealthy people at charities, we may imagine them talking at arms length, consoling and then returning to their luxurious homes. It somehow seems like a mere token gesture to create popularity but not a real personal sacrifice. Do such people actually get their hands dirty? Jesus was a real leader, not only because he willingly died on the cross for his followers, but he also got his hands dirty. In John 13:1-35 we see the example of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Typically, one of them hinted that it was beneath a leader’s stature to wash feet. We might be tempted to say the same. Yet, Jesus said that if they would not allow him to wash their feet, they had no part with him. Do we allow him? Real leaders get dirty.