The Culture of the Beatitudes
About the Author
Ben spends most of his time working with underprivileged kids in Tijuana, Mexico, encouraging them to continue their education. He's an unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb, which runs the elementary school, Centro Pedagógico Didaque.
Last night in my seminary class we studied the Beatitudes. What a great passage to dissect with classmates of another culture. Reason being is obvious: other cultures can be difficult to understand.
Matthew 5 is clearly difficult to comprehend. Of course we should be humble, thankful, gracious, tactful, patient, etc. But in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He goes way beyond normal courtesies. Who wants to be poor in spirit? Mourn? Have hunger and thirst? Be persecuted? Receive insults? These are 100 percent illogical to any rational western culture. Of course, in Christianese the quick response is, “What are you talking about? Jesus has commanded us to be like that!” Well? That’s obvious on paper, but the application?
Paul said to the church in Corinth: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27). That, in the twenty-first century, is considered garbage. It makes no sense—much like the Beatitudes! Often I find myself with the same thought: This cultural act makes no sense to me. However, I’m learning to appreciate these moments with reference to the Bible.
Most days I am confronted with events where I have a near head-on collision between two cultures. I noticed this literally last fall when I couldn’t even figure out how to cross the street in Scotland. Driving on the left side of the road works great when you’ve learned from birth this movement of transportation. The problem arises when you’ve learned the opposite, and are stubborn in your ways. So at first it’s difficult to adjust. But it’s possible with time and an open mind. But regardless, at first things don’t make sense.
That’s when it’s great to think of biblical cultures and customs. For I am sure that Jewish culture would make even less sense to me than the roads in Scotland. To understand the culture behind the Word of God (the Bible), I have to put aside my country frame of reference. To understand the culture and customs of where a missionary resides, he or she must do just the same.