Why didn't I know this? My response is "Of course!" This is a revelation to me and so welcome! Thanks, Beau. I'm not a paying subscriber, but I really appreciate your wisdom and your knowledge.
Thank you for keeping the article free. I think it is so valuable. I was not aware of these 3 cultural factors. Great explanation. Flip the script.
I first became aware of the gap between how the Bible was taught and what the stories meant in context to the times they were told with the "put on the wedding garment".
But all these little things would be so helpful preached. I think the preachers either don't have the knowledge or prefer to deliver the message for their own benefit. I find that scary.
Yes! The more I see it in conjunction with what the norms of the times were, the more Jesus' brilliance shines. If we can get the stories right it presents a radical Teacher with ideas definitely out of the box.
This this this! Bible projects series through the sermon on the Mount last year radically transformed my understanding of the nonviolent response to evil. Not passive but subversive.
Funny how church folks turned these teachings into etiquette lessons. “Be nice. Stay quiet.” Meanwhile Jesus was teaching the art of sacred sabotage. That’s why empire religion had to declaw him. A Messiah who tells peasants how to outwit humiliation is dangerous. A Messiah who teaches dignity without a sword is unstoppable.
This essay is such good timing. I was just having a conversation with our boys about how to bring Jesus to the workplace, the soccer field, the classroom (especially when addressing disrespectful peers), and their response was, "You just want us to be nice to everyone." That gave me pause. Was I advocating people-pleasing with a guise of spirituality? I have been rethinking my desire to live in harmony with people (for the most part) with their male, justice-oriented, confrontational approach and asking God what his desire for them looks like. I need to print this out and sit with it and show them these verses. Thank you, Beau!
I’m so glad this hit at the right time for you. What an important conversation to be having with your boys. This “Third Way” truly speaks to the genius of Jesus. We all need to get more creative when dealing with injustice. Thanks for reading, Abigail!
I've heard this explanation in the past but few know this. Turning the other cheek, and others mentioned in this article, is not instruction as believed by most Christians. Jesus was real and not afraid to confront and outwit evil.
Thanks for sharing this with us. I really like this approach to use against those who are abusive and oppressive. I will have to think about this further. Thanks.
The reversal is so important to understand. Maybe instead of protesting, we, citizens, should just go with the immigrants when ICE arrests them. Just a thought of how we can flip the script.
I quoted Walter Wink and other theologians I trust, but yeah…you don’t have to take my word for it. Would you like me to provide books and or resources that talk more at length about this?
Why didn't I know this? My response is "Of course!" This is a revelation to me and so welcome! Thanks, Beau. I'm not a paying subscriber, but I really appreciate your wisdom and your knowledge.
Jesus was brilliant! 🙌
Thank you for keeping the article free. I think it is so valuable. I was not aware of these 3 cultural factors. Great explanation. Flip the script.
I first became aware of the gap between how the Bible was taught and what the stories meant in context to the times they were told with the "put on the wedding garment".
But all these little things would be so helpful preached. I think the preachers either don't have the knowledge or prefer to deliver the message for their own benefit. I find that scary.
You’re welcome! I remember reading about this Third Way (Walter Wink’s term) and it being so fascinating. Jesus was so brilliant!
Yes! The more I see it in conjunction with what the norms of the times were, the more Jesus' brilliance shines. If we can get the stories right it presents a radical Teacher with ideas definitely out of the box.
God as trickster!
This this this! Bible projects series through the sermon on the Mount last year radically transformed my understanding of the nonviolent response to evil. Not passive but subversive.
Funny how church folks turned these teachings into etiquette lessons. “Be nice. Stay quiet.” Meanwhile Jesus was teaching the art of sacred sabotage. That’s why empire religion had to declaw him. A Messiah who tells peasants how to outwit humiliation is dangerous. A Messiah who teaches dignity without a sword is unstoppable.
“The art of sacred sabotage” I like that! 😊
This essay is such good timing. I was just having a conversation with our boys about how to bring Jesus to the workplace, the soccer field, the classroom (especially when addressing disrespectful peers), and their response was, "You just want us to be nice to everyone." That gave me pause. Was I advocating people-pleasing with a guise of spirituality? I have been rethinking my desire to live in harmony with people (for the most part) with their male, justice-oriented, confrontational approach and asking God what his desire for them looks like. I need to print this out and sit with it and show them these verses. Thank you, Beau!
I’m so glad this hit at the right time for you. What an important conversation to be having with your boys. This “Third Way” truly speaks to the genius of Jesus. We all need to get more creative when dealing with injustice. Thanks for reading, Abigail!
I've heard this explanation in the past but few know this. Turning the other cheek, and others mentioned in this article, is not instruction as believed by most Christians. Jesus was real and not afraid to confront and outwit evil.
Thanks for sharing this with us. I really like this approach to use against those who are abusive and oppressive. I will have to think about this further. Thanks.
You’re welcome, Beth! Thanks for reading!
Thank you so much for sharing this. Enlightening!
You’re welcome, Virgina! I owe most of these thoughts to Walter Wink. His books have shaped my views on this topic greatly.
The reversal is so important to understand. Maybe instead of protesting, we, citizens, should just go with the immigrants when ICE arrests them. Just a thought of how we can flip the script.
Yeah, I think that would be appropriate, even appreciated by those of us who would take this seriously enough to pursue it further.
Walter Wink:
- The Powers That Be: Theology for a New Millennium
- Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination
- Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way
Amy-Jill Levine:
- Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner’s Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven
N.T. Wright
- Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (Ch. 1–15)
Craig Keener
- The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary
Richard Horsley
- Jesus and Empire: The Kingdom of God and the New World Disorder
John Howard Yoder
– The Politics of Jesus
Reenacting the Way blog
– “Turning the Other Cheek: Jesus’ Peaceful Plan to Challenge Injustice
This is indeed subversive in a good way - if it is true. Unfortunately, you provide us no way to verify its truth.
Perhaps you verify by living it
I quoted Walter Wink and other theologians I trust, but yeah…you don’t have to take my word for it. Would you like me to provide books and or resources that talk more at length about this?