Others Centered

Radical Rules

I recently found a list of Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” that is the handbook for groups in America who want to radically change America into a nation vastly different from what the Founders had in mind. You can see this list here.

Jesus gave a different set of rules when He taught the “Beatitudes” giving the world His set of “Radical Rules”. This teaching is often misunderstood by people as a set of rules by which, if we live accordingly, we will be found worthy of Heaven and His Kingdom. If you read the Beatitudes carefully, you will come to realize that it is an impossible list to live up to and nobody has a chance to accomplish it.

That was the point Jesus was trying to make because Heaven is not attainable through our own good works. Jesus was the only one who was able to perfectly live according to these “Radical Rules” and therefore Heaven is only reachable through Him. He lived the perfect sinless life for us so that we could be found worthy to enter God’s Kingdom. Here are the “Rules” Jesus gave us.

1. Be Salt and Light. Salt is a flavor enhancer and light exposes darkness and allows God’s goodness to be seen.
2. Do not be angry with your brother without cause.
3. Do not even look at a woman lustfully. This is the same as committing adultery. If you eye causes you to sin cut it out, if you arm causes you to sin, cut it off.
4. Do not promise anything. Let yes mean yes and no mean no. Anything more is from the evil one.
5. If someone slaps you, turn the other cheek. If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, give him your cloak.
6. Love your enemies. Bless those that curse you and do good to those who hate you.
7. Don’t do charitable deeds in front of people but do them in private so you do not get any glory.
8. Pray by asking for God’s will to be done and forgive others so that you can be forgiven.
9. Fast but don’t let anyone know you are fasting.
10. Do not lay up treasures on Earth.
11. You cannot serve two masters. Serve God alone.
12. Don’t worry about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Trust God and be anxious for nothing.
13. Don’t judge others for things that you yourself are guilty of.
14. The gate and the road to Heaven is narrow and difficult but there is only one way and few will find it.
15. Knew the good and the bad by the fruit they bear. Good trees will bear good fruit and bad trees will bear bad fruit.
16. Build your life on the foundation of God’s Word and not on the shifting sand of the world.

If you read through Matthew 5 and 6 it is somewhat depressing because all of us will fail if we think this is that handbook to live our lives by. Jesus was telling us that making it to Heaven on our own is impossible. It is only through the saving Grace of Jesus Christ on the Cross that we can be found worthy enough to enter Heaven. The Bible says that we are saved by Grace alone and not of our own good works.

When you compare these “Rules” to those given by Saul Alinsky it is strikingly different. One set of rules was written to take power and destroy others who stand in your way. The other set of “Rules” was given to strip power, put others first, and put God first. One set covers up personal weakness and uses deception to advance on Earth. The other set exposes personal weakness and uses Truth and Grace to enter into Heaven.

Jesus did not come to tell us how to live but to live for us. He set the bar so high that only He could clear it and be good enough to make it through the gate. He told us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and nobody can get to the Father except through Him. He is the narrow gate and he is the only gate.

In a time where the world is falling into chaos and turmoil, we need Him more than ever. The ability to look up to Heaven is the only thing that can give us true peace in times like this.