Making Good Messes
The kingdom has come. It’s already here because Jesus brought it with him. But it’s not yet complete until he returns to perfect it. It’s the kingdom of the already and the not yet. Which is where we live—between the tension. And it’s a messy place to be.
–The Kingdom Experiment
I’m not a big fan of messes, but I’m also a messy person. The worst is right after I return home from a trip. My dad taught us to always unpack as soon as we get home, regardless of the hour, the weather, or the amount of whining we could muster (which was significant). Doing so was like giving a gift to our future selves. I came to learn that if I didn’t unpack immediately, I would unpack… eventually, probably. Or maybe just repack when the next trip comes along. I’m not a big fan of messes, but I’m also a messy person.
When the spaces where I live and work and drive are clean and empty of clutter, I feel better. I can think more clearly. I’m better able to focus. The sky is more blue and the birds chirp with a little extra pep. OK, maybe I’m getting slightly carried away, but I think you get the picture. I live in the tension of someone who appreciates a clean space but doesn’t always prioritize cleaning. Maybe you know someone like that?
And so we turn to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. More specifically, we turn to the Beatitudes, the blessings that open Jesus’ sermon. During the season of Lent, the 40 days of preparation for Easter Sunday beginning on Ash Wednesday, we will explore the Beatitudes on a deeper level during worship. And since we are sent out by God from worship into the world, we will consider ways to live out the Beatitudes throughout the week. We will offer experiments for individuals and groups to choose from and try together.
As we prepare, I offer a word of caution. Things could get messy. Through the Beatitudes and throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers a vision for God’s kingdom that turns our worlds upside down. In contrast to a society focused on winners and losers, Jesus lifts up the poor in spirit, the peacemakers, the merciful, the meek, and the persecuted. Living out these Beatitudes may put us in tension with our natural instincts, even with how we’ve been taught to live and treat one another. And as much as I dislike the tension that comes with messes, I believe that Jesus’ invitation will be a gift to us this season of Lent. So let’s enter into the wild and wonderful way of Jesus together during these 40 days. Let’s seek first God’s kingdom and prepare for the Holy Spirit to transform our lives, our church, and our world.
Find out more about the weekly experiments and all the ways to participate this Lent at www.beulahumcsr.com/lent