The Church and the World, Part 3

As we read these words, there is no doubt of Ken's understanding of the Sermon on The Mount as a call to a revolutionary way of living. But, as mentioned in previous posts, it is a revolution of the heart; a revolutionary way of thinking about our values that he is talking about. I have heard Ken teach on the Sermon on the Mount many times. He never (as far as I remember) advocated a position of rebellion against the government, or trying to force our will through political process; he did advocate a radical new way of thinking as we took seriously the teachings of Jesus.

I first became acquainted with the academic study of the Sermon on the Mount from my New Testament professor at Bethel Seminary, Bob Guelich. He wrote a great book, "The Sermon on the Mount," which is a study using the tools of Biblical and Literary criticism. It isn't a book of devotionals, but a study. I found myself becoming more interested. Then I discovered "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This is more in line with what Ken seemed to believe. The teachings were to be followed by disciples of Jesus. Yet, Bonhoeffer wasn't advocating political revolution -- he was writing in Nazi Germany. He was advocating a radical discipleship of Christians. Finally, I read Dallas Willard's, "The Divine Conspiracy." Without going into a real review of the book, the basic principles echo Bonhoeffer and Ken Pagaard.

The Sermon in some ways is a reaction to the Jewish Law. It doesn't negate the law, it goes to the heart of the law. It can only be practiced if there is a change of heart. The problem with the law was that it didn't go far enough. Law can regulate behavior. Law can't regulate the human heart. Jesus came to give us new life and transform our hearts. The Sermon on the Mount expands the Law into the realm of a transformed heart. This is an area of life that can never be regulated by political means.