Getting Back to the Basics of What Jesus Taught

Photo Credit: Relevant Magazine

I've recently read three very interesting posts from two different online newsletters - two, from the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) and one from Rick Warren (Daily Hope).

Richard Rohr is the primary writer for the CAC online newsletter. 

He writes in one post, "We must be honest and admit that most of Christianity has focused very little on what Jesus himself taught and spent most of his time doing: healing people, doing acts of justice and inclusion, embodying compassionate and nonviolent ways of living." 

That is the main point Rohr is making. 

It's straightforward and if you look at the recent history of much of the U.S. Christian Church, I'd say it's valid.

How often does the Christian Church get in the news for doing acts of justice, compassion and nonviolence?

On a related subject, Warren pointed out the difference between a witness and an attorney. He said that Christians should remember this distinction. He defined the difference between a witness and an attorney by giving a clear example.

In court, if you're on the witness stand, testifying about a car accident involving a red car and a green car, you tell what you know. "I saw the red car run into the green car." That's it.

We can get into trouble when we over-explain and complicate the things Jesus did and said - which are actually very simple.

Photo Credit/Learned Religions

In another post from the CAC, Megan McKenna writes: "Knowing Aramaic, the language of Jesus, has greatly enriched my understanding of Jesus' teaching. Because the Bible as we know it is a translation of a translation, we sometimes get a wrong impression. For example, we are accustomed to hearing the Beatitudes expressed passively: 

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.  

"Blessed” is the translation of the word makarioi, used in the Greek New Testament. However, when I look further back to Jesus’ Aramaic, I find that the original word was ashray, from the verb yashar. Ashray does not have this passive quality to it at all. Instead, it means “to set yourself on the right way for the right goal; to turn around, repent...'

How could I go to a persecuted young man in a Palestinian refugee camp, for instance, and say, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted,” or “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”? That man would revile me, saying neither I nor my God understood his plight and he would be right.

When I understand Jesus’ words in Aramaic, I translate like this:

Get up, go ahead, do something, move, you who are hungry and thirsty for justice, for you shall be satisfied.

Get up, go ahead, do something, move, you peacemakers, for you shall be called children of God.

To me, this reflects Jesus’ words and teachings much more accurately."

Maybe, the challenge for Christians in the U.S. is to realize what we are called, primarily, to be witnesses, not defenders of the faith. And focus on actions that promote active blessing, instead of being condescendingly self-righteous. 

Maybe, this combination - remembering what we are called to say and what we are called to do - could be a way to get out of the spiritual inertia present in much of 21st Century American Christianity. 

According to the Pew Research Center, the Christian religion is on the decline in the United States. Significantly so within the past decade. 

Perhaps now would be a good time for Christians to become more focused on what they do and say to help get back to the simplicity of how Jesus lived and what he taught.

Meet Chris Gobble, Owner of The Little Frame Shop & Gallery

The Gobble Family

For over two decades, Chris Gobble has been running her own business, The Little Yellow Frame Shop and Gallery, in Richland, MI., where she lives with her husband, Paul, and their two children.

What do you enjoy the most about your career? How many years has the Little Yellow Frame Shop and Gallery been in operation?

The part of my job I enjoy the most is the relationships I get to form with the people who trust me with their often-precious artwork and memories. While we’re working on making the right choices for their framing projects, I get the opportunity to spend time talking to my customers and getting to know them.

I started my business in August of 1998, so we’re coming up on 23 years.

 

Do you have a philosophy of life that guides you in your business and in life?

I never really thought of it as a philosophy, but rather just the way I naturally am, but I’ve always felt that I get the best reactions from people, whether in a business situation or personal, if I’m simply in the moment, aware, and treat people with respect and consideration. I always tell my kids that it’s so much easier to be nice to people than not. We’re all in this together and, ultimately, should be present and available for each other.

 

How did you decide on Richland for the location for your business?

I’m originally from Norristown, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia. I met my husband when we worked together at an art supply store/frame shop. While we were dating, his family moved to Michigan and he returned to college about three hours from me. When he finished school, he went to Michigan to spend the summer with his parents and decide what his next step would be. 

During that time, I had been working for two local frame shops in my area but had thought a great deal about starting my own shop. My husband (then boyfriend) started a graphic design/photography business in Battle Creek and was looking for a space closer to Richland where he lived. He discovered the location we’re in now, but it didn’t work for him. He had the idea to call me and ask if I would consider it for a frame shop. I flew out to see it and loved it. There weren’t really any frame shops close by, so I went for it.

 

Little Yellow Frame Shop

What is it like to live upstairs from your business?

I was originally worried that it would be all work, all the time and that the line between my home and work lives would get really fuzzy. There are definitely times when that happens, but it’s usually very manageable and incredibly convenient, especially once we had our two girls. Even though it cuts our living space in half, I love the mom-and-pop shop model.

 

What was the most challenging framing project you have had?

I once had a couple bring in a three-dimensional, wooden model of an altar in a cathedral. It was something like two feet tall and almost as wide and very detailed. Absolutely beautiful. They had purchased it overseas outside the cathedral it was modeled after. There had been an art student who was attending a local art school and he made this as a project for one of his classes. They had it carefully shipped home and wanted a case for it. We built a beautiful case with ornate frame moulding and glass on three sides. It had a door so they could get inside to see it more closely and we installed a light inside at the top. I have a handful of other really cool stories of projects that we’ve done over the years. Each project usually has some kind of a story and how I really enjoy learning from each one.

 

Could you name a couple of your favorite artists, and why they are your favorites?

That’s a tough question because there are so, so many amazing artists out there.

From a fairly young age, I’ve always loved Georgia O’Keeffe for her determination to forge her own path in this profession and to dare to see the world in a different way and paint that. 

Vincent van Gogh is another artist whose work I was always drawn to, mostly because of his technique and emotion in his paintings. 

Alberto Giacometti is a modern sculptor of tall, slender figures. There’s something about his work that I love but can’t quite put my finger on, but I’m moved every time I see his sculptures and drawings. I love the line work in his sketches and there is a human emotion element that speaks to me. As I’m thinking about this my head is flooded with so many others whose work I’ve seen in museums (Bouguereau, for instance) and I find myself thinking “maybe he/she is my new favorite.”

 

Has COVID-19 impacted your business?

There were two and a half months last year that we had to close our doors because of COVID. After we reopened, we were flooded with customers. I suspect that people had spent that time at home, cleaning out closets and finding things they had planned to have framed, and also wanted to support local businesses. We were very busy for months after that, which I am so grateful for. Our biggest problem was that my vendors were all getting back up and running and there were (and still are in some cases) many backorders and materials we couldn’t get. It’s been frustrating to not be able to know while a customer is here, whether or not we’ll be able to complete their order in a timely fashion or if we’ll have to make another choice. It’s slowly getting better, but we’re still feeling the effects from it.

 

Would you like to say anything about the bicycle accident that your husband Paul was involved in, with other members of his cycling club, in June of 2016? [Paul was cycling with members of the club when they were hit by a pick-up truck. Five of the cyclists were killed, four were injured. Paul sustained injuries to his head and spinal column.]

We feel so fortunate that we didn’t lose him that night. He has made an amazing recovery. My heart still goes out to the families of the wonderful people who were lost. So many people were affected and lives changed forever by the horrible decisions made by one person and I urge everyone to think about that when getting behind the wheel of a car. Our community has been absolutely amazing and supportive throughout all of this. Because of them, my faith in humankind was restored at a time when it had slipped. I will be forever grateful to this caring community.

 

Is there anything else you'd like to mention?

I’ve had the privilege of framing countless numbers of personal, priceless items for people and I feel so honored to be a part of that. I’ve also framed so many reproductions of famous works of art over the years and I forget how absolutely amazing the originals are in person. 

The arts are so very important and I highly recommend that everyone take any opportunity you can to spend some time in a museum or local art gallery to appreciate the beauty and the work that goes into the creation of art.

You can reach The Little Yellow Frame Shop and Gallery's Facebook page here.