The Sermon on the Mount

Hello everyone. Today, we shall focus on the lessons of the Sermon on the Mount in light of the current global issue emanating from a recent world news story about the United Nations’ attempts to contain increasing global violence and wars. The UN has now accepted that there is an increase in new threats of violence and conflicts, and the humanitarian crisis which is fired by climate change and the inclusion of new technologies in weapon development (Summit of the Future Explainer: A New Global Peace Plan for “Uniquely Dangerous” Times, 2024)). In this video, I will explore how the principles of the Sermon on the Mount can help us to solve these problems.

Now, let’s reflect on what it would be like if the people in the news story believed what Jesus said

If the people involved in the current global conflicts and violence truly believed in the teachings of Jesus, especially those in the Sermon on the Mount, the wars would not be happening, period. Jesus is known to speak about peace, forgiveness, and even loving our neighbors, not forgetting love for our enemies (Youvan, 2024). If the leaders of the world and any persons in the middle of any disputes embraced the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount , there would be more dialogue and less emphasis on military power and more on diplomacy, dialogue, and nonviolent solutions to problems. The methods of fixing conflicts in the Sermon on the Mount would also promote the welfare of the entire nation and not tear it apart, fostering unity instead of division.

Now, I will explain in what ways Jesus’s teachings are counter-cultural or counter-intuitive to the ways in the story.

The teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount are counter-cultural in this article’s context. Competition, force, and political power dominate the worldwide management of conflict, which is opposite to the teachings of Jesus Christ on shouldering power, asserting meekness, and refusing to use violence (Yang & Li, 2021). Jesus teaches that those who are meek will inherit the earth and says that those who are making peace are blessed. This message challenges the traditional approach to international relations and conflict management, which relies on dominance and aggression. In today’s world, where nations are often driven by self-interest, competition, and the desire for power, Jesus’ teachings on humility and reconciliation seem counter-intuitive and unrealistic to many.

I will now discuss how living out the Sermon on the Mount might influence the people and events in the article

If the governmental actors and diplomats engaged in the Sermon on the Mount’s principles, the UN’s New Agenda for Peace could be quite different. Where the emphasis was placed on military analysis and control, based on the combination of force with technical progress, attention could be paid to the principles of partnership and cooperation, respect, and empathy for the oppressed. Jesus’ words on loving others and forgiving wrongdoers could lead to diplomatic efforts that emphasize restorative justice rather than punitive measures. The teachings help transform the characters and behaviours of those who seem to be parochial and encourage peaceful approaches to conflict resolution, embracing the common good rather than anger for power.

In conclusion, the Sermon on the Mount provides instructive help in handling concerns touched on in the UN request for relaxation. Jesus’ teachings encourage humility, love, and making peace, lessons that, if practiced by the world, especially in the war and violence debated in the article, could bring about positive change. If individuals and nations practised these principles, it would be possible to transform conflict so that it is not about the use of power but healing and reconciliation. Thank you for listening.

References

Summit of the Future Explainer: A new global peace plan for “uniquely dangerous” times. (2024, September 16). UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154326

Yang, Z., & Li, L. (2021). Positioning Religion in International Relations: The Performative, Discursive, and Relational Dimension of Religious Soft Power. Religions, 12(11), 940. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel12110940

Youvan, D. C. (2024, August 20). Truth and Peace: A Christian Perspective on Living in Alignment with God’s Will. ResearchGate; unknown. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Douglas-Youvan/publication/383265445_Truth_and_Peace_A_Christian_Perspective_on_Living_in_Alignment_with_God

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Getting Started

The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of teachings by Jesus that are found in the Gospel of Matthew. It is one of the most important and influential passages in the Bible, and it has been interpreted and applied in many different ways throughout history.

The Sermon is a powerful and challenging message that calls us to live a life of radical discipleship. It is a call to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to give to those who ask, and to pray for those who persecute us. It is a call to live a life of simplicity, humility, and compassion.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

• Identify key concepts of Christlikeness taught by Jesus Christ.
• Discuss ways to apply biblical wisdom in relation to socially relevant issues in society.
  

  The Sermon on the Mount

Instructions

1. Read What is the Sermon on the Mount?
2. Read the Sermon on the Mount in the Bible.
3. Search for a news article from a current event, either taking place locally, nationally, or globally (cite the news source, article, and news link), that connects with the Sermon on the Mount.
4. Reflect on the article and look for connections with the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
5. Based on the current news event you found and in light of the Sermon on the Mount, craft a 3-minute summary of your findings answering the following questions (due Day 4).
   1. What would it be like if people in the news story believed what Jesus said?
   2. In what ways are the teachings of Jesus counter-cultural or counter-intuitive to the ways in your story?
   3. If lived out, how might the Sermon on the Mount have influenced the people and events in the article?
6. Share your reflection in Video Note and post by Day 4. Watch and respond to at least two other students’ Video Posts by Day 7.

1. • Read the Video Note article for help with posting a Video Note.

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Make your initial post by Day 4.
3. Post a reply to two of your peers by Day 7.
4. Your postings should also:
   1. Be well-developed in quality by providing clear answers or asking integrative questions that give evidence of critical thinking and meaningful engagement with course resources and/or other resources.
   2. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas or thought-provoking questions.