The Beatitudes, 2012

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

My Bible classes began working on the Beatitudes recently. The nine statements of Jesus at the outset of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's chapter five are familiar to Christians but are often foreign to the way we act. How are we supposed to rejoice and mourn concurrently? Who feels good about being mistreated? Philip Yancey translated these teachings as Lucky Are The Unlucky. Our class periods centered around our own translations of these contradictory, to the non-believer, words of truth from the lips of the Savior. Each student was assigned the task of recreating the Beatitudes in ways that made sense to them in twenty-first century Houston, Texas. What follows is a sampling of the theology of my eighth grade students:

Blessed are those who always feel like runners-up, for everyone is equal in God's eyes. -Lindsay

Blessed are those who must keep their Christianity a secret, for they will find liberation in Heaven. -Matthew D.

Blessed are those who get their phones taken away, for communication with God is the best kind you will receive. -Kaitlyn B.

Blessed are the poor in sight, for you will see great in Heaven. -Jeremiah

Blessed are those who are lonely, for you will be surrounded by angels. -Madison

Blessed are the blind, for you will not have to see the horrors of this world but the beauty of Heaven. - Devin

Blessed are the sick, for you will never have a cough again in Heaven. -Mallory D.

Blessed are the dead, for you will live in Christ. -Cory G.

Blessed are the ones who cannot afford college, for Jesus' teachings will guide you through life. -Kaitlyn B.

Blessed are the homeless, for Heaven will be their true home. -Sheyi

Blessed are those who have blank minds, for the Word will fill them with knowledge. -Avery

Blessed are the hated, for God will love them ten times over. -Richard

Blessed are those who cannot hear the voice of the Lord, for He will always be with you in Heaven. -Laura

Blessed are those who die for freedom, for there are no wars in Heaven. -Derrick

Blessed are the bored, for there will be an enormous amusement park in Heaven. -Mallory 

Blessed are the angry, for God will find love in you. -Gino

And the teacher said, "AMEN!"

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com