Dumb sheep, hidden treasure and Jesus

Quick little parable of Jesus about the Kingdom of God (KoG):


‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.'


When reading this parable, you may be like me and consider that the KoG is like this treasure in which we find, sometimes stumbling across it, and when we do we rejoice and give all we have in order to obtain this treasure.  Sounds good to me.  


Until I realize that nowhere in that interpretation of this parable is there any room for God.  In fact, in this understanding of this parable, it is we humans who are doing all the work and God is absent.  Which is radically different than what the rest of Jesus' message is about, in which God is the one who is acting first and primary.  


Take the parable of the lost sheep.  The shepherd leaves the other ninety-nine to find the lost one.  We get it.  God is the shepherd and we are the sheep.  Notice that God is acting first and primary in this common interpretation of this parable.  God is the good shepherd and we are the dumb sheep.  


Christians have a bit of a self esteem problem sometimes.  We are okay with identifying ourselves as dumb sheep and a man who "stumbles" across a treasure.  But we are not usually comfortable with identifying ourselves as more.  


Back to the parable of the treasure in the field.  


What if this parable is God is the one who found a treasure and put that treasure in the field?  Then God so delights in this treasure God gives all that God has in order to be one (reconcile) with this treasure?  What if humans are God's treasure?


The KoG is like God first found treasure (human beings), then put that treasure in the field (the earth).  And then God gave all that God had (God became human and lived, died and resurrected) in order to be one with this treasure (reconciliation with humanity).  


In a world (and sometimes in the Church) in which you and I are constantly told we are not good enough, not smart enough or pretty enough, could it be that Jesus is saying to us - God thinks you are good enough.  


What if the Good News is that God holds you as treasure?


We are comfortable with the idea that we are dumb sheep, it validates to us what the world says to us.  However could it be that a counter-cultural message that is the Good News be that you - yes, you- are God's treasure?  


If that is an uncomfortable idea, then perhaps we are beginning to see how some people really thought Jesus was wrong.  

All bad? Dog vomit? Stench of a tomb?

The other night I could not sleep and decided to turn to one of my favorite past times, watching televangelists.  I can spend a while watching these men and (sometimes) women.  I learn a lot from them in delivery styles as well as public communication.  In the end, I find regardless of the Scripture or topic, almost every televangelist ends the sermon the same way.  Jesus died for your sin and you need to pray for Jesus to enter into your heart.

Not very shocking to hear as this is typically understood as an evangelical message.  But the sermon the other night got me thinking a bit, which is generally not good as I try to fall asleep.  

The preacher was refuting the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I did not get to watch the entire message but the part that I saw was the preacher going through different quotes from the LDS doctrine and then explain how this was "wrong" and "not Biblical".  

The thing that got me thinking was not about the LDS but about the idea the preacher said which was "biblical".  According to the preacher, everything that humans do is bad.  He shared that all of our collective goodness throughout time can be summed up in a few words: "dog vomit and the stench of an open tomb."  But it is okay and the Good News is Jesus still loves us despite we are all turds in his punch bowl of life. (That last line is mine, not his but it is in the spirit of the preacher's argument).  

Is this really a Christian message?  Is this really Good News?  

Personally I have a hard time interpreting this as Good News.  

I know humanity and individuals are not Saints or pure or perfect.  I know there is sin in the world.  I know we all are, at times, turds.  But just because we are at times turds does not mean we are turds at our core.  

The way I understand the Biblical narrative is that before sin entered into the world, God called humanity Very Good.  We mess up, but at our core we are declared Very Good.  

What would it be like if we shifted our thoughts from thinking that humanity's default setting is 'bad' and any good we do is out of character, to reclaiming our Biblical tradition that proclaims humanity's default setting is "Very Good" and any bad we do is the exception not the norm.  

Beginning with the human condition as "sinful" and "broken" seems to allow for me to excuse my behavior when I do sin.  I think, "oh, I messed up big time here, but what do you expect I am a sinner and dog vomit."  

Rather when I begin with the human condition as "Very Good" it seems to view my sin as behavior for which is not excusable because I know better or I am a different person.  My thought shifts to something like, "oh, I messed up.  That is not like me.  I am sorry for acting out of character.  Let me make this up."  

Cynics might see it as a self fulfilling prophesy.  Maybe it is.  But I believe the world would be transformed if we reclaimed the Biblical view that humanity is, at our core, not beautiful turds but beautiful.  

And that, to me, is Good News.