heart transformations

I visited yesterday at the church of my best man Andrew and his wife Georgie. It was a bit mind-blowing to see how much their children have grown up over the two years we've been away.

The pastor there was preaching on a difficult series of verses, discussing anger, lust, and integrity. He discussed the way that Jesus took the commonly-held views of society, but exhorted people to go beyond just keeping the extreme boundaries of acceptable behaviour, to being open to a transformation of their deeply held inner attitudes... work that he discussed can ultimately only be accomplished through the involvement of God in our lives.

In the verses in question Jesus is recorded with a series of statements, “You have heard it said”... “but I tell you...”. The pastor came up with a few current examples I thought I'd reproduce here:

• You've heard it said, “Don't drink and drive” but I tell you “don't rely on alcohol for your good times, seek what is really true, fulfilling and satisfying.”
• You've heard it said, “Don't speed” but I tell you “be courteous to all the other drivers on the road.”
• You've heard it said, “It only counts if I get caught” but I tell you “If you've got nothing to hide then hide nothing. Act with integrity.”
• You've heard it said, “Just do it!” but I tell you “don't let your every desire control you or it will be a life of meaningless destruction.”
• You've heard it said, “Acquire stuff” but I tell you “value your soul.”

Thought provoking stuff. I know for me at least I still need transformation in terms of some of the original anger, lust and integrity stuff too. I am a broken vessel.

Finally some words of Jesus: You have heard people say, “Love your neighbours and hate your enemies.” But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven.

I hope for a world where this principle genuinely guides our Foreign policy. (You can read the original passage here.)