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| You think? I have this bad habit of stating the obvious. It often pops up when my wife, Jeanie, and I are traveling. We’re in the car cruising through a strange town, and then it happens. I start to read aloud some of the signs or business names as we’re passing. “Hi-U Inn. All Kitchenettes.” A few blocks later, “Pet cemetery and crematory.” Then, “Shifters Bar & Grill.” Absolutely drives Jeanie nuts. I don’t know why I do it. “Bump and Grind Exotic Dancers.” She drives her fingernails into my flesh. The habit of stating the obvious takes other forms, of course. The Chinese, for example, have this interesting expression when they meet, roughly translated: “Hey, it’s you!” Or take the situation in which a new appliance, fresh out of the box, won’t work — until someone helpfully mentions that “you’ve got to plug it in.” Such cases call for a derisive comment and heretofore that comment has been “Duh!” or the Homeric variation, “D’oh!” “Scientific study proves that pain really does hurt.” Well, duh! The verbal putdown I’m hearing more frequently these days, however, is different. It’s used to respond to statements that any thoughtful person would find self-evident. Consider these headlines from Jay Leno: “Lawmakers to consider housing felons in jail.” You think? “Eliminating trucks would eliminate truck accidents.” You think? Want more? “British study finds less traffic when roads close.” You think? “He said the town’s sewage officer, Walter R____, has determined the ice problem clears up in the summer.” You think? “Sun or rain expected today. Dark tonight.” You think? So we inhabit a “You think?” world, a universe of self-evident propositions and truths — truths that are as obvious as the headline, “Maps can help determine location.” But Jesus lives in a “Don’t think so!” world, a different dimension where the self-evident is turned on its head, where conventional wisdom is cast aside like a squeezed lemon. It’s not “out-of-the-box” thinking; it’s “new-box” thinking. His world was a “You think?” Moses world. He was about to change all that. Moses said: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” You think? I say, “Don’t think so. Do not resist an evildoer.” Moses said, “You shall not commit adultery.” You think? I say, “Don’t think so. Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Moses said, “You shall not murder.” You think? I say, “Don’t think so. If you are angry with a brother or a sister, you will be liable to judgment.” Moses said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” You think? I say, “Don’t think so. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” All of the sayings of Jesus can be interpreted in this dyadic manner. Where do we practice piety? In public or in private? Where do we store up our treasures? On earth or in heaven? Whom should we judge first? Others or ourselves? Which gate should we enter? The broad one or the narrow one? When we fast should we put ashes or scented oils on our face? He repeatedly, doggedly, said “Don’t think so,” when the world was saying “You think?” The Beatitudes are another case in point. They completely reconfigure prevailing “You think” wisdom. Beatitudes don’t offer us “You think?” statements; they offer “Don’t think so” declarations. Blessed are the rich, for theirs are the kingdoms of the world? You think? Don’t think so: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who laugh and never suffer loss, for they will be happy. You think? Don’t think so! Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the strong, the Alpha Males, the influential and powerful, for they will inherit the earth. You think? Don’t think so. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the ambitious, for they will achieve success. You think? Don’t think so. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the fair, the firm and the unyielding, for they will return discipline, accountability and responsibility to our world. You think? Don’t think so. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the multi-taskers, for they will get more done for God. You think? Jesus says, “Don’t think so! Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Blessed are the idle and the curious, those who stand on the sidelines and try not to get involved, for they will be safe. You think? Don’t think so! Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God. Blessed are those who stand up for their rights, insist on their rights, champion their rights, and sue to protect their rights against those who take advantage of them, for they will be vindicated. You think? Don’t think so! Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. The kingdom of God is nothing if it’s not about a new way of thinking. This caused no end of confusion in Jesus’ day as it continues to do in our own day. We’re a “Don’t think so” church in a “You think?” world. That’s the central conflict. Always has been, is, and always will be.
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