No Better Way to Start Than with Suffering!

Matthew 5:11-12

Welcome to "Agape and Veritas"; love and truth are always a good combination! I have been reading through the Gospel of Matthew daily for the past few weeks, just bits at a time, as a devotional practice, having been about daily disciplines for a while. One reason I was attracted to this blogging idea (more so than private journaling) is that there is a certain public accountability present that cannot be found by simply jotting down my thoughts and feelings in a personal format. I have tried journaling, but it never really stuck. I am hoping and praying that this outlet may become a more fulfilling way of recording some of my faith exploration, as well as a chance to engage other readers in conversation! Whatcha think!? (Beware of random pop culture references and inside jokes. Hopefully they won't distract you too much...) ;)

Now, I know a good many of you may be put off or confused by my skipping 4 chapters and 10 verses of Matthew... I would be! I hate starting something in the middle! Like missing the opening prologue and initial conflict in a movie or book. You miss the whole point and lose interest quickly. That's why I challenge you to refresh your memory if you think you know what those chapters hold, OR read them for the first time (its not like its long...). Feel free to check back in here whenever you'd like! Eventually, I will finish Matthew and move on to something else. Perhaps Mark. Perhaps some Psalmage (Pslams; I like adding "-age" after things). Perhaps something completely different. I will advertise around various places when I change the current study I am using, like on Facebook, email, AIM, face-to-face, AND in the little box on the top right under the title that says "current study."

Now I know I have written a lot of background and maybe this is going on way too much, but I have ever done this before...so... there ya have it! Here are a few tidbits on Matthew 5:11-12.

So Jesus has been borned, tempted, baptized, and begun preaching around Galilee at this point, having just started the famous "Sermon on the Mount" beginning with the Beattitudes. These stories have illuminated the confusing parts of my life recently and set me on track. Jesus continues after the "Blessed are's" with a blessing on those who are persecuted "because of me." He then encourages, "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."

Now, I know there has been much conversation lately in theological circles about suffering and its relationship to atonement, injustice, and the Christian life; but I would rather not tackle that nest of gundarks right now, especially not in the very first (and increasingly lengthy...) blog post of my life. Suffice to say, I suffer a lot. Or at least I do in my head. But rarely is it "because of" Christ. Whether or not suffering should be looked for, it opens up the oft-ignored fact that I do not take many risks for Jesus. Being a Christian requires that I be vulnerable for his sake, take a leap of faith, step out of my comfort zone. But I'd rather not... (shame-faced :( ). So if anyone out there finds they fit that same bill, don't get all glum and guilty, but don't ignore it either. If people are going to insult you or otherwise harass you, make sure that it is because of your belonging to Christ and his way, not because you actually deserved it. : /