JCS 4.3, "Sermon on the Mount," Shipping Soon!

The Journal of Christian Studies volume IV, issue 3 will be shipping to subscribers soon! The issue is focused on the Sermon on the Mount. Below we include the editor's note, table of contents, and list of contributors. Subscribe today to ensure you don't miss this issue!

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From the Editor

On October 1, 1958, Christian Century published an article by Norman Pittenger called “A Critique of C. S. Lewis.”  The next month, Christian Century published Lewis’ response. Like so much of his writing, Lewis’ response is instructive and entertaining, and by the end of the short article, it’s hard not to feel sorry for poor Dr. Pittenger. 

Among Pittenger’s many criticisms is that Lewis does not “care much for” the Sermon on the Mount but instead prefers the “Pauline ethic.”  The implication is that Jesus’ Sermon reflects an optimistic view of human nature, able to fulfill the divine commands, whereas Paul’s view is pessimistic in its emphasis on human sinfulness and helplessness.  Lewis replies that these are not alternatives between which we may choose.  And he notes that Jesus, in the Sermon, calls humans “evil” (Matt 7:11). I would add that Paul also holds very high expectations for Christian sanctification.  Lewis then goes on to say:

As to “caring for” the Sermon on the Mount, if “caring for” here means “liking” or enjoying, I suppose no one “cares for” it. Who can like being knocked flat on his face by a sledge-hammer? I can hardly imagine a more deadly spiritual condition than that of a man who can read that passage with tranquil pleasure. This is indeed to be “at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1). Such a man is not yet ripe for the Bible.

I am reminded of how Elizabeth Achtemeier began her book on difficult Old Testament passages: “I have always thought, and in fact taught, that if we have some problem with a passage in the Old Testament, it is not the Bible’s problem.  It is ours."

The same is true with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.  The set of teachings gathered in Matthew 5–7 is intentionally radical and difficult, as are most treatments for deadly diseases.  It enjoins a righteousness that is over and above: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.”  “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”  I imagine that it was passages like these that Lewis had in mind.  We, like Lewis, can easily see the high ethical demands of Jesus as easily as we can see that we fall far short.  It’s disconcerting.  We may not like the Sermon, but we must not ignore it.

In the spirit of not ignoring it, this issue of the Journal of Christian Studies faces the Sermon on the Mount head-on.  We asked article contributors to consider and address such questions as: How can we better understand the Sermon on the Mount and specific passages within it?  How does it function in the context of the Gospel of Matthew and in its larger canonical context?  How can knowledge of historical background illumine its message?  What can we learn from the history of exegesis and theological interpretation, as well as from ethical and sociological approaches?  What is the word for the church today?  How should we preach and appropriate and apply the Sermon on the Mount?

Our contributors have sought to address some of these essential questions.  We offer this issue on the Sermon on the Mount as an insightful guide and conversation partner as we all seek to understand, practice, and teach its truths.

Keith D. Stanglin

Editor

stanglin@christian-studies.org

Table of Contents

Brett Vanderzee (The Springs Church of Christ), "Sermonizing the Sermon: Aims and Assumptions for Preaching Matthew 5–7."

Nathan Guy (Harding University), "Our Way of Life: A Virtue-Based Approach to the Complete Art of Happiness."

Matthew D. Love (Harding School of Theology), "Preaching the Blessing of Christ."

M. Todd Hall (Center for Christian Studies), "Walking in the Way of Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount and Formation of Character."

Sam Peters (Madrid Church of Christ), “'Among Christians, Is there a Christian?' On the Meaning and Means of Being 'Perfect' in Matthew 5:48."

Mark A. Matson (Milligan University), "The Lord's Prayer: Praying for All It's Worth"

Keith D. Stanglin (Center for Christian Studies), "To Judge or Not to Judge?"

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