Independent, but not Isolated

 

Seeing the crowds, he [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others 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 so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12 ESV).

 

The picture today is the Missionary Baptist Church near Rich Mountain Road. This road  provided the first settlers access into Cades Cove. Originally a path used by the Cherokee, this route was eventually widened into a wagon road. By the mid-1800s, five roads led into and out of the Cove - Crib Gap Road, Rich Mountain Road, Cooper Road, Rabbit Creek Road, Parsons Branch Road - compared to only one or (seasonally) two routes open to two-way traffic today. These roads provided the families of the Cove opportunities for commerce, as well as social and political interaction. It is no wonder that the informational marker outside the church begins with the phrase “Independent, but not Isolated.”

 

The Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church was established in 1841 after a split from the original Cades Cove Baptist Church over disagreements concerning missionary work, temperance societies, and Sunday schools. This division, known as the Anti-Division Split, led to the formation of the Missionary Baptist Church by Pastor John Adams and other congregants who advocated for missionary efforts. Both of these church buildings still stand in their original location. They are also still used for weddings and other periodic church gatherings. Baptists have never been accused of not being independent!

 

Perhaps a better word to achieve as a description would be the word “blessed.” People often say that they are “blessed” when they are enjoying good things in life: a beautiful sunset, time with their loved ones, a comfortable place to live, exciting travels. But when we hear what Jesus taught about being “blessed,” we get a different picture. Jesus describes a number of people who seem to be the opposite of blessed. The list includes people who are broken down, struggling, or even persecuted. How could Jesus call them blessed?

 

Through his life and teaching, Jesus introduced a new kind of world. It was a new way of understanding what a beautiful community looks like. Jesus called this beautiful new community “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven.” And in God’s kingdom, the typical priorities of our world (wealth, pride, winning at all costs) are turned upside down.

 

In God’s kingdom, Jesus says all people are welcome, not just those who are rich or respectable. In God’s kingdom, a beautiful life of mercy and peace is possible by God’s grace. We may feel disoriented at first when we follow Jesus, because his values are not the values of the world. But the right-side-up kingdom of God is good news for us and for the whole world, because it is the most beautiful kingdom possible!