Third Discourse in Matthew: Belief and Practice

The third discourse of Jesus in Matthew are parables having to do with the Kingdom.
And (Jesus) told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen! 

 Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."~ Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23

I’m looking for a second reformation. The first reformation of the church 500 years ago was about beliefs. This one is going to be about behavior. The first one was about creeds. This one is going to be about deeds. It is not going to be about what does the church believe, but about what is the church doing.” ~ Rick Warren

Christianity is a lifestyle - a way of being in the world that is simple, non-violent, shared, and loving. However, we made it into an established "religion" (and all that goes with that) and avoided the lifestyle change itself. One could be warlike, greedy, racist, selfish, and vain in most of Christian history, and still believe that Jesus is one's "personal Lord and Savior" . . . The world has no time for such silliness anymore. The suffering on Earth is too great. ~ Richard Rohr

For the past 500 years, Lutherans have tangled themselves up with debates about 'works righteousness."

 What do we have to do to inherit the Kingdom?

 Well, in true Lutheran fashion...'nothing.'

 But......

 Maybe the questions should be "How do people know we've inherited the Kingdom? How do people know we are followers of Jesus?"

 "How do people know that the Church is the body of Christ?"

 While Jesus did say things like "believe in me" and "believe in the Kingdom of God," he didn't really talk much about correct beliefs or thinking. He never used the words 'dogma' or 'creeds' or 'doctrine.'

 But he did talk about what those beliefs looked like when they were fertile. He did talk about what followers of his would be like: loving, servant-like.

 He did talk about what a bounty is looked like when belief in him turned into true practice of faith.

 He did talk about how the Kingdom of God transformed lives.

 Believing is fine. But what does that belief do to us?

 And what does that belief do to - and for - the world around us?

Meditation: Where is God seeking to transform my life?

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