Radical Humility, Radical Generosity
Jesus tells his disciples to live lives that are radically different from the world — even the world of good people of faith. The life Jesus calls them to — calls us to — is counter to common sense.
For instance he tells them to – Give to everyone who begs from you” (Luke 6:30 NRSV). When traveling to some parts of the world I’ve been sternly warned not to give to any beggars at all. They come in great numbers and if you give you will be swarmed. It’s just too dangerous. Jesus’ radical generosity is challenging.
For another example, Jesus tells us to – lend, expecting nothing in return.” (Luke 6:35 NRSV) When I go to the bank for a loan they look hard at me and my papers to be sure as they can be that I will pay back every penny — with interest. But Jesus isn’t calling me to be a bank. He’s calling me to be a person.
Tantalizing Principles – Underneath this very poetic discourse on life in Christ are some hints at principles. Let me briefly note three that I find both challenging and inviting.
First: Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NRSV). This is, of course, the Golden Rule. We teach it to children as if it were easy and obvious. But it’s actually pretty hard. Sometimes the children teach us in their intuitive misapplication that it is much easier to look hard at how others treat us and take it as an invitation to treat them the same way. Unfortunately that’s the way toward the old “eye for an eye” thing. It takes some serious pondering to look at a real life situation and reverse the roles: “How would I want to be treated in this situation?” And of course it takes some Christ-like love to then actually do the answer.
Second: – Do not judge, and you will not be judged” (Luke 6:37 NRSV). That one is actually easy, except for in churches, politics, and the internet. How hard it is not to condemn another — which is what we usually mean by “judging.” But really, offering approval is also a judgment. What if we offered neither condemnation nor approval but simply loved people? Personally I suspect that, especially in our churches, when we find ourselves condemning another the wise route is to take it as God’s call to our own repentance. There is something of the same sin within me or I would not have recognized it and hated it in another.
Third: – Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36 NRSV). This is another place where the comparison to Matthew is illuminating. Here’s Matthew’s version from the Sermon on the Mount: – Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 NRSV)
Note the subtle difference. with Matthew you have to wrestle with what “perfection” means, and whether it is possible, and so forth and with Luke you just have to look at God’s mercy. Then do it. Like look at your life, and see the daily ways, tiny and enormous, that God has been merciful to you. Then you just go do that mercy thing toward other people.
That call to imitate God’s mercy lies behind the Golden Rule.
That call to imitate God’s mercy lies behind the call to be radically generous.
That call to imitate God’s mercy lies behind the call to not judge.
As we say in the Jesus Prayer – Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.
And as Jesus said to the one who identified the true neighbour as the Samaritan who showed mercy,
Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37 NRSV)
Used with permission Gary Neal Hansen, Ph.D Website and Blog: garynealhansen.com Book: Kneeling with Giants: Learning to Pray with History’s Best Teachers (InterVarsity Press, 2012)