In the late 90’s and early 2000’s there was a very popular children’s tv show called Teletubbies. Each week Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po would go on a fun adventure in Teletubbyland. They would roll on the ground, laugh, run about, and watching real children on the televisions on their bellies. And everything in Teletubbyland was nice.
The sun would never burn you. In fact the sun had a baby’s face and it would make baby noises right through-out the show.
When the tellytubbies greeted each other they were always so nice.
Eh Oh Tinky-Winky.
Eh Oh Po.
It is all so sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice.
You know there are people in this world who try and make their life like Teletubbyland.
We want everything to be nice.
We want everything to be comfortable.
We want to feel safe.
We want life to be easy.
But that is not how Jesus wanted it. In fact Jesus has called us to a life which is radically making a difference. Let me show you what I mean by giving you an introduction to the Sermon on the Mount. We start in ...
Matthew 4:16-20 (read)
The basic message of Jesus here is ... this the real world:-
We live in a world of darkness ... its gloomy, it has shady characters, it brings fear.
We also live in a world of death ... we will decay, life always ends.
As we look around us we are faced with the reality that everything here is just going downhill. The big question is:- how are you going to deal with this reality?
Now some people go into Tellytubbyland. They try and make everything in their life look good. They try and cover the darkness and death with all sorts of avoidance techniques.
You hear about these actresses who take an hour to put their face on.
I don’t know about you but when I wake up my face is there.
You can keep trying to keep up the facade but when you get to 85 not even plastic surgery is going to help anymore.
It is an avoidance technique but what a waste of time that is! Ifthat doesn’t work they try something else. A good education. A good job. A good family life. A good holiday. All to avoid the darkness and death. It’s just Tellytubbyland over and over.
And then Jesus steps in and says – let’s try a different way. Why don’t we see what happens when you repent.
To repent doesn’t just mean to turn to God.
It means to turn your life ... your destiny ... your gifts ... your everything ... over to Him.
From that moment everything changes.
Those in darkness ... see a great light.
Those living in the shadow of death ... light dawns into their world.
And they see the reality. And they realise that trying to get by without God’s help is just going to lead to waste and emptiness. But when you repent everything makes sense ... and you have a purpose.
Come follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.
Jesus doesn’t have in mind the fishing that you do when you stand on Shorncliffe pier and drop your line over the edge. It’s fishing from a boat, in the middle of the sea at night. It’s cold and the waves a huge and you’re felling seasick. And you smell, and everything else smells. But you do it for the catch. The catch is the whole focus. You put up with everything for the hope of the catch.
That’s what it means to be a Christian.
It’s gutsy.
It takes stamina and commitment.
It’s far from easy.
It’s radical. And it means we are going to stand out.
Read Matthew 5:13-16
Notice the emphasis. You.
YOU ... YOU are the salt ... YOU go out in this world and you seek to make a real difference. YOU bring the flavour. YOU seek to determine the taste. Without YOU this world is bland. But when YOU get out there and do it YOU spice up the world.
YOU ... YOU are the light. YOU show the world that the answer to the darkness and death is not to go into the pretend world of Tellytubbyland. But that YOU have radical values which make a real difference.
This is Jesus saying, “You who are part of my family. That is what I want from you.”
Which says a whole lot about the sort of people that we are ... and the sort of people which the church ought to have within it.
We are not here to be part of a club. Where it is all nice and cosy and where we create our own Christian version of Tellytubbyland. Instead of being rugged fisherman who go out to sea we pull out our little magnetic fishing rods and catch plastic fish out of a dish. We create this illusion that we are doing something useful, but really it is all just a waste.
That is not what we are here for. Nor are we here to be Christian Schizophrenics. On Sunday we do the Christian thing and talk the Christian talk and act the Christian act. Then from Monday to Saturday we live a totally different life. And our personality is such that people look at us and don’t even realise that we are believers.
That’s not what we are here for. We are here for the radical life.
To be like salt and make a difference.
To shine our light and let people see what real life is.
That’s how we live. In fact Jesus gives us some very specific ways that we can do this. We find them in Matthew 5:1-11. This section of Scripture is known as the Beatitudes.
These are attitudes that should be in you.
Read Matthew 5:1-11
What does it mean to be blessed?
It means to be approved and to find approval.
It means knowing what the good life is and living that life.
It means having true contentment because you understand your destiny and purpose.
Blessed ... a blessed life ... that is what everyone wants.
Blessed ... it’s the reward which comes to those who want to live a radical life.
And the way of Jesus, and the ways of those who live in Tellytubbyland are so different.
Jesus says:- Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.
We understand that we are not special, and that we have nothing within ourselves to commend them to God. We empty ourselves of all self-righteousness and moral self-esteem. We come in humble dependence on God because we know that we are spiritually bankrupt.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are those who have rich experiences.
We need to be people who have diversity, who can say, “My life is rich”. Have a smoke of this. Put a bit of that in your veins. Let your lust run wild. Try it all so you can boast about your achievements. Not poor, but richly indulged.
Jesus says:- Blessed are those who Mourn.
We look at this world and to see the lack of integrity, the injustice, the cruelty and the cheapness of it.
We look into ourselves see the blackness of their own soul.
And we mourn over the loss of innocence, of righteousness, of self-respect.
We weep over the sins of this world.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Carefree.
We are not burdened by life. We just don’t care. We are free agents who seek to have fun without any thought for the future.
And we do it without regrets; as long as everything works out for number one ... me.
Not mourners but self absorbed.
Jesus says:- Blessed are the Meek.
We recognise just how much we have stuffed up and don’t deserve the love of others – or of God – yet are so humbled when God and man show them love.
We have a humble and gentle attitude towards because we are fully aware of our own faults and mistakes.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Self Assertive.
We will not let anyone walk over us. We will gladly step on the toes of others without any care for the consequences. We will push everyone out of the way – as long as we get what we want.
Not meek but arrogant.
Jesus says:- Blessed are those who Hunger and Thirsting for Righteousness
We know the events of the world matter, but our ultimate ambition is not material gain – it is spiritual. To be mature in the things of God. To be conformed to His will.
And the Word of God is our delight.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Spoilt.
Why should we hunger or thirst for anything. We have technology. We have pleasure. We can get anything we want. And if we can’t afford it we can go and borrow the money we need. Blessed are those with a loan.
Not righteous but pampered.
Jesus says:- Blessed are the Merciful.
We see the helplessness of people around us and we know that we have to help. Even if these are people who have hurt us we will forgive them and show them love. We don’t expect anything in return, or even a word of thanks. We are just there.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Hard-Hearted.
We can’t be bothered with others; they are in that situation out of their own stupidity. And if people hurt us we won’t forgive, we will take revenge and get even. We stand ourselves against all the pitiful fools who wander this earth.
Not merciful but ruthless.
Jesus says:- Blessed are the Pure In Heart.
We are sincere and we are transparent. We want the people around us to know the real us, even if that means admitting our faults and failings. When you talk to us you are talking to the real us – and we are glad that you are able to get to know the real us.
What you see is what you get.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Deceptive.
We put on a mask and pretend to be someone we are not. We make others think that we are for them and that we want to help, but all the time we have ulterior motives and hidden agendas. Who you see and who we really are are two very separate people.
Not pure in heart but fake.
Jesus says:- Blessed are the Peacemakers.
We want to make a difference.
Lessening tensions.
Seeking solutions.
Ensuring communication is understood.
We don’t confuse important issues with distractions and, will always lower their voice and smile even when the intensity of the argument might want them to do otherwise.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Divisive.
We are deliberately antagonistic because we enjoy making the lives of others miserable and uncomfortable. We will always want our way no matter what without compromise. When we have been wronged we will never forget and loudly protest. Brokenness follows us everywhere.
Not peacemakers but confrontational.
Jesus says:- Blessed are the Persecuted.
We will be willing to take the insults and the accusations even if they are unwarranted or false. When the word resists us because we are being salt and light we will not retaliate. If suffering for the name of Jesus is required we will do it – without complaint.
But in Tellytubbyland:- Blessed are the Sheltered.
We sit in easy street and wait for everything to fall into our lap. We deserve to have the best and live a life that has no suffering or difficulties. Our motto is “Live and Let Live”. And we will do whatever it takes to avoid making our lives feel miserable or uncomfortable.
Not persecuted but insulated.
In this world there are two good life guides. The blessings as defined by Jesus – and the blessings as defined by those who stay in Tellytubbyland.
One life of blessing is a call to a radical life with values that are so different they hit us like spiritual torpedoes and shock us to our senses. There is a sense where, naturally, we want to try and avoid such a life, but in Jesus we know it is the only way.
The other life of blessing has us chasing after an empty dream. Good food. Good clothes. Good holidays. Good health. Good wealth. And everyone is looking around at each other with their wine glass in their hand and saying isn’t this just a lovely party. It’s all so nice. All to avoid the real issues.
In the darkness and in the valley of death the only way forward is to see the light in Jesus. So many people don’t want that do they.
As the question, “Do you want to see Jesus?” ... I’d rather see the telly tubbies.
“Do you want to see Jesus?” ... I’d rather have a steak.
“Do you want to see Jesus?” ... I’d rather watch TV
“Do you want to see Jesus?” ... I’d rather see the Great Barrier Reef
This isn’t real.
This isn’t radical.
See what Jesus has come to bring.
Get out of Tellytubbyland.
It’s going to be tough.
It’s not for wimps.
It’s going to make you stand out.
It might even make you a target.
But it will mean you can be sure that you are a radical with a Jesus cause.
Prayer
