I’ve heard a lot of sermons in my life on the Beatitudes – “Be-attitudes,” anyone? And I’ve read a fair bit about the different ways that Christians have interpreted the Beatitudes over the centuries. But there’s one question I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone discuss: where is it precisely that the Beatitudes are supposed to happen?

In Christian history, we’ve talked plenty about who is supposed to carry out Jesus’s instructions in the Sermon on the Mount. Is it to be all Christians, or just leaders, or just “super-spiritual” people? And regarding the Beatitudes specifically, we’ve talked a lot about personnel (who are these “poor in spirit”?), and about time (will we “see God” or “be comforted” in this life or in the life to come?). But I don’t think I’ve ever heard a conversation about place.

The reason this is on my mind is because, over the last several months, we’ve had two deaths in my family. Both were close family members; one died far too soon and after a battle with cancer, while the other’s death was at the end of a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Of course, we are still reeling from the reality, processing the emotions, and finding ourselves caught off-guard by moments of grief. But one thing I have noticed is that my wife and I have received a great deal of comfort from people who are Christians. Thankfully, that’s not surprising, and it’s not that we haven’t heard from others who are non-believers, but the main source of our comfort has clearly been the church, in that sense of “the people, not the building.”

In other words, I can honestly say that I am very blessed right now, even in the midst of all the grief. Why am I blessed, despite my mourning? It’s because I am being comforted in my mourning by fellow believers. Am I happy? Not necessarily. Am I smiling? Not much. Would I call myself “fortunate,” at least in the ways the world outside uses the term? Probably not. But I am most certainly blessed, in that good biblical sense of “the state in which everyone has exactly what they need right now, thanks to God’s good work in their lives” (see texts like the whole book of Deuteronomy and the many “blessed are those who” statements in Psalms). And God’s good work is happening through God’s good people.

That’s what has gotten me thinking about the Beatitudes. I am indeed blessed despite my mourning, and it’s because I am being comforted by the church. But what about the other Beatitudes? Is the church the place where those statements are most true? I think it may be! There’s not space for a full description, but let me give a few examples:

• You may be aware that we don’t know what Jesus’s phrase “poor in spirit” really means, but it’s clear that it’s something where there’s a lack – something is missing. How could such people be blessed? In the church! Because it’s there that the whole kingdom of heaven is theirs despite whatever “poverty of spirit” may be in play. Jesus died for us all, and our salvation holds despite our feelings and our circumstances, right?

• Where do meek people “inherit the earth” (v. 5)? Probably not in our power-hungry, grasping world. But if Jesus here has in mind the Old Testament idea of “the earth” as “the land of Israel,” then finding an inheritance amidst God’s people makes a lot of sense. Meek people may not acquire much in our world, but they have Christian community in the church.

• Hungering and thirsting for righteousness might seem like an easy one, since it’s a “good” thing. But I’m not sure it’s actually “good” in the eyes of the world… unless you live in a place where Christianity is the norm. True righteousness goes against the ways of the world, and so those who seek it may not be welcome. But the church is a place where they should be.

• The same is true about the merciful. That sounds nice, but our world these days is dog-eat-dog, and relationships can be, to adapt Thomas Hobbes’s description of life, “nasty, brutish, and short.” Where could mercy be valued in a world like ours? In the church, where we recognize the reality of sin and also the need for forgiveness!

I could keep going, right? But I think you get the idea. Perhaps one big reason that we can be “blessed” in these difficult circumstances or holding values that the world does not hold is because of the people of God. For me, this is how I can “rejoice and be glad” (5:12) despite my grief – because I am amongst God’s people. 

But here’s the thing: I know I’m not alone. I’m confident you have lots of people in your church that are hurting. There are always people who are mourning. Hopefully, you’ve got folks hungering and thirsting for righteousness. We just had an inauguration after an extremely contentious election, and you’ve got folks who want to be peacemakers but aren’t sure how.

So, this is my encouragement to you today: do everything you can to make your church a place of beatitude. A place of blessedness. 

How might you do that? The short answer is this: have your eyes open for the people whom Jesus describes as “blessed.” See if you can find them. You can do that whether you are an official leader in your church or not, whether you are new to the congregation or an old hand, whether you are male or female, young or old, etc. 

Want more specifics, or some examples? Make an extra effort this year to have an eye out for those who are missing something, those who are “poor in spirit,” and see if you can come alongside them and encourage them. Look for the meek in your church – and remember that their meekness means you might have to look really hard! – and then walk with them as they deepen their relationships with and service to others. Find the people who are really good at being merciful, and praise them for it. Here’s an especially good one: encourage the teenagers in your group. Being in middle and high school is always hard, especially for kids who want to be devout. Having an adult openly cheering them on can help them to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and to keep their chins up when they feel persecuted for their faith.

Do what you can, and openly encourage your people to join you. If you need a text to inspire you, spend some time with the book of Ephesians, especially chapters 2 and 4. Be the people of God, the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, and do what you can to build up that community. How could your people be anything other than blessed in a community like that?

May God bless you as you bless others!
David