Sermon | Matthew 5:7-12 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 4. "Blessed Are..." (part 2) by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana

Sermon | Matthew 5:7-12 | WE ARE THE KIN-DOM 4. "Blessed Are..." (part 2) by Rev. Joseph Sanford at Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, Indiana We, as the Kin-dom, know that all humans are one. Any threat or perceived alternative to that truth is created and sustained by humans, not God. People are obsessed with “sides.” We think we know something about a person if we can divvy them up into labels Liberals and Conservatives Right and Left In and Out They are ALL relative: “Room example” A peace-maker refuses to play the game. A peace-maker stays founded upon God’s way first and only. A peace-maker operates from a place of humility, gentleness, sadness about the division, longing for things to be right among people, and merciful compassion. A peace-maker stands between. A peace-maker never says, “We must take a stand!!” The problem is, when you stand between, you are seen as the enemy by both “sides.” The rules of the game are that you are either “one of us” or “one of them.” Being a peace-maker will disrupt the game. People LOVE the game: Why would they play it if they didn’t love it? People are scared, so they will play the game to be given a narrative that allows them to 1. Know the reason for their fear so they can 2. Know how to defend against it and 3. Kill it. (That’s how it worked for Jesus) Anger…is just fear in disguise, friends. Every political argument being made out there is simple fear that lacks mercy and compassion. Each side wants the other to go away…leave…or even die—because they are terrified of what it means if they aren’t “right” or “in control.” For this game to stop, peace must occur. And peace isn’t the lack of conflict. Peace is the presence of wholeness. We only get that wholeness when we are in unity/community. Not uniformity, but unity. We don’t need to agree—spouses and families should make that truth crystal-clear, amen? This world would be boring and unhealthy if we all agreed about everything. But we can be diverse in thought peaceably—so that everyone is loved, honored,  and regarded with dignity. This is God’s way. It’s not the way of any other system, correct? Focusing on ourselves, on our own people, and refusing to see others is so tempting. So…if it’s not the way we will see in our world, it will never happen without us. God calls us; it starts with us. It starts with YOU in your life, your home, your family, your friends, your community. And, you should know, if you embrace the Kin-dom way and  become a peace-maker, it will be hard and you will face resistance You will be labeled “enemy” in uncertain terms. You will be insulted. You will be denounced, shunned, and rebuked. You will be targeted by institutional and conventional wisdom. You will have your words & actions combed through by those seeking to tear you  down. People will leave your group when you choose to live into the way of peace, mercy,  and compassion. People will say, “You are abandoning God!” because, for them, God is not “merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love.” For them, God and God’s name are being used for their own vanity and purpose. Sadly, that’s a reality we face today. God’s way has been commandeered and used to herald human-made systems, leaders, and groups. But we can be the Kin-dom nonetheless, amen? We can embrace mercy and compassion—not only for others, but for ourselves, yes? We can focus on the Kin-dom alone and know that we will be blessed. Our mourning will be comforted. Our thirsting for God’s way for all people will be satisfied. Our efforts toward peace-making will reveal the truth of God in and through us. We can rejoice! We can know we are pleasing God even when we are not pleasing those who live in  other systems. We can be the pride and joy of God… We will receive God’s mercy and compassion… We can be the Kin-dom alongside of one another following in the footsteps of Jesus. Yes we can friends. Yes, we can. And we must.