Book Review - Life in Tension

Life in Tension, by Stephen Hiemstra, dives deep into the context and intentions of the beatitudes. The blessings (makarios) of the beatitudes provide the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament call to peace (shalom). In the beatitudes Jesus points out that our experience of God's shalom is hindered by our sin and lack of commitment to Him, bringing tension within ourselves, between us and others, and between us and God.

The author's numerous insights connect Old Testament and New Testament scripture, history, and culture to Jesus' timeless words. He illustrates how our lives, culture, and choices are affected by rejection of Jesus' revelations. Some examples of Jesus' spiritual truths translated into our modern lives:

•    Modern technology worsens the already heavy burden of self-centered rumination.

•    God blesses those who are willing, who beg destitution in the spiritual realm, with the kingdom of God.

•    Taking the next step to extend God's law fulfills it, not merely staying within its boundaries.

•    We can receive blessing, forgiveness, and healing through true humility; or else God will act sovereignly, which may be harder on us.

•    Pain we bear shapes our identity and transforms us.

•    For us, meekness is a fruit of the Spirit; for God, it is just who He is.

•    We are pushed to break the fundamental commandments of God's economy in our pursuit of the wealth of Pharaoh's economy,

•    In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus changed the question from "Who is my neighbor?" to His own question (to us), "Who proved to be a neighbor?"

•    Hypocrisy or tension? Christians who act like everyone else are called hypocrites; those who do not are seen as judgmental.

•    We cannot end war, but we can at least express the love of Christ to the needy person who crosses our path.

•    Matthew 5:11 repeats and intensifies Matthew 5:10 with three verbs and a shift from third person to second person, as redemptive suffering is the capstone beatitude.

•    We do not naturally mourn over sin in our lives; we seek comfort, not transformation.

Jesus' bottom line calls us beyond receiving and believing truth, to allowing it to transform us.