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Created on Friday, 04 June 2010 16:01

Written by Doug Grimes

We are living in times when the difference between those who follow Christ and those who don't is being blurred. We can look at the usual barometers like divorce, law suits, bankruptcies, etc but there are more subtle even dangerous ways. Take a look at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and see how they contrast to what the world calls happiness. A friend of mine recently sent what she called the Beatitudes of our culture.

Happy are the "pushers" for they get on in the world. Happy are the hard-boiled for they never let life hurt them, Happy are they who complain for they get their own way in the end. Happy are the blase, for they never worry over their sins, Happy are the slave-drivers, for they get results, Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world for they know their way around. happy are the trouble-makers; for they make people take notice of them.

What the world needs is people who are different, admitting their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. I saw this in a very interesting way in the sports world this week. An umpire for a Detroit tigers baseball game blew a call at first base. The result was the pitcher didn't get a perfect game ( a huge deal). Yet he admitted he blew it and apologized for the miss call. That in itself would be great but what was even more astonishing was to see the reaction of the fans, who you would expect would be calling for his job. They applauded him and extended grace, which brought him to tears. Lord help us as a church be like that for it is so attractive.