Turn the Other Cheek

Prober · 10-21-2006, 09:52 PM

Matthew 5:38-45 "...resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee an thy right cheek, turn to him the other also...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven..."

Romans 12:17-21 "Recompense to no man evil for evil...avenge not yourselves...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

(of course, read the whole text)

If we as Christians took these words seriously, would we be in Iraq and Afganistan?

Would 9/11 have happened?

Would there be any reason to fear "terrorism"?

Would there be any "terrorism"?

What a wonderful world this could be!

Prober · 10-21-2006, 11:11 PM

Too big and too hot of a topic?

Should we have taken OBL's advice and appologized?

moseslmpg · 10-22-2006, 12:13 AM

What about the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth passage? I'm sure someone will bring that up, even though I usually don't agree with the OT God.

Prober · 10-22-2006, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moseslmpg

What about the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth passage? I'm sure someone will bring that up, even though I usually don't agree with the OT God.

In Matthew 5, Jesus, quoting the eye for an eye passage from the OT, is saying this is a better way.

juantoo3 · 10-22-2006, 12:52 AM

Kindest Regards, Prober!

Bumped this out of the vault. It might help some:

http://www.comparative-religion.com/...heek-4909.html

Faithfulservant · 10-22-2006, 02:15 AM

I personally believe that there is a time for everything... I believe Jesus was talking to the individual person in that scripture..and not necessarily telling us to be someones punching bag. God calls us to war and we will be called to war when Christ returns with His army of saints. We are told we war not against flesh yet we have the right to defend ourselves... We were not created stupid... we are called to forgive but not necessarily forget. God places the worlds leaders in their positions and revokes it at His will.

just my 2c

BlaznFattyz · 10-22-2006, 03:50 AM

there is also the good samaritan, sometimes it requires action that is justified by its character, the opposition being apathy towards the victim.

Prober · 10-22-2006, 03:54 AM

Ghandi said "If you can't help people, please don't hurt them".

Quahom1 · 10-22-2006, 04:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prober

Ghandi said "If you can't help people, please don't hurt them".

Only two cheeks to a man, and Ghandi never had to deal with the sin of the world.

Quahom1 · 10-22-2006, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prober

Too big and too hot of a topic?

Should we have taken OBL's advice and appologized?

Who is OBL?

oh, that OBL. well let the Russians have him. They don't seem to have a problem with dealing with such sorts.

China Cat Sunflower · 10-22-2006, 05:30 AM

Well, I think that's a pretty tough thing that Jesus suggested: turning the other cheek. And I think he meant it as an overall strategy. Kinda goes along with "love your enemies". It's interesting the different ways people come up with to justify not doing what Jesus said. It's no harder to turn the other cheek and love your enemies than it is to take up your cross, but I guess the latter can be considered philosophically, while the former is practical, but too impractical. I mean, if one can go to the stake, or to the lions singing, then turning the other cheek isn't that big of a deal. But we have the luxury of living our lives in less dire circumstances.

I think that turning the other cheek can be an effective strategy in some circumstances. Sometimes it's better to absorb the last blow and walk away. Sometimes it's the only way to stop the cycle of violence. But even on a more mundane level, like in a marriage or relationship, very often it's better to let the other party have the last word instead of letting things escalate.

Chris

Prober · 10-22-2006, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Well, I think that's a pretty tough thing that Jesus suggested: turning the other cheek. And I think he meant it as an overall strategy. Kinda goes along with "love your enemies". It's interesting the different ways people come up with to justify not doing what Jesus said. It's no harder to turn the other cheek and love your enemies than it is to take up your cross, but I guess the latter can be considered philosophically

Well said, China. It occurs to me that "turning the other cheek" may be one's cross sometimes.

Dor · 10-22-2006, 05:48 AM

We have seen war affecting God's people since the very first book of the Bible.

When marauding kings captured his nephew, Abram sent his army to rescue Lot and those captured with him (Genesis 14:14). Abram ordered his army to attack at night without warning. In the battle that followed he routed his enemies and rescued the captives.
When Abram returned from battle, Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, attributed Abram's victory to God. "Blessed be God Most High," he says, "who delivered your enemies into your hand" (Genesis 14:19). He has no condemnation for what Abram has done.
"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield" (Genesis 15:1). Following this military metaphor, God made his covenant with Abram, promising that his many descendants would possess Canaan.

Deuteronomy 25:18 tells us that the Amalekites struck those who were weary and therefore lagging behind the main body of Israelites. These would have included the infirm, the elderly and families with young children. Without hesitation, Moses ordered Israel to strike back. Joshua led their army. Thus, the future commander of the army that would invade Canaan gained valuable battle experience.
As long as someone held up Moses' arms, Israel was winning. When his arms dropped, the Amalekites gained the advantage. The battle lasted until sunset, with Israel victorious (Exodus 17:10-13). After the battle, God spoke. He had no moral condemnation. Nothing to teach Israel. No lesson to be learned. No correction given. He wanted the battle's story to be recorded and he promised that he, the Lord, would be at war with the Amalekites from generation to generation (verses 14–17).

Joshua and Judges. Both books relate the holy wars of Israel in the period between the death of Moses and the establishment of the monarchy.
Jos.6 The walls of Jericho. Jos 10 Battle of Gibeon showed God physically helping with hailstones and the sun standing still.
Judg6-7 Gideon's Battle God made him reduce the army from 32000 to 300 and routed an army of 135,000.
Judges 13-16 Sampson and the Philistines one of the best known stories of the bible.
Among the great warriors of Israel was David. Tens of millions of children have heard how he slew the giant Goliath.
After becoming king, David warred to unite the nation and to fight Israel's neighbors.
2Kings6 Elisha against the Army of Syria God provided an army of Angels.
2kings 19 the angel of the Lord put 185,000 Assyrians to death in one night.
2Chr.20 The Battle of Jehoshaphat an entire army is defeated with Songs of Praise.
Book of Esther. Queen Esther saves all the Jews.
In Deuteronomy 20, God gave laws regulating warfare.
Romans 13 1-4

As Abram became the father of the faithful, one other point may prove important for Christian ethics. Abram was willing to suffer loss for the sake of peace. Genesis 13 tells how Abram gave up the greenest pastures in exchange for peace between his servants and Lot's servants. Yet peace was not his highest ethic. When Lot and his neighbors in Sodom suffered from invasion, Abram's army went to battle to rescue them. The men of Sodom were wicked; Lot may have been greedy, but Lot was kin, and Lot's friends were the victims of an invading army. By going to war, Abram again proved his willingness to suffer loss for another's benefit.

So maybe the turn the other cheek is supposed to be applied to use in our personal situations but maybe not necessarily when other people are in danger.

Look also in Rev. Doesn't Jesus himself leads an army to war?

mee · 10-22-2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prober

Matthew 5:38-45 "...resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee an thy right cheek, turn to him the other also...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven..."

Romans 12:17-21 "Recompense to no man evil for evil...avenge not yourselves...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

(of course, read the whole text)

If we as Christians took these words seriously, would we be in Iraq and Afganistan?

Would 9/11 have happened?

Would there be any reason to fear "terrorism"?

Would there be any "terrorism"?

What a wonderful world this could be!

yes what a wonderful teacher Jesus was, and we can see why he was a wonderful teacher, he was taught by his father Jehovah God , and Jehovah said that we should listen to Jesus.which in turn would mean that those who listen to Jesus would be taught by Jehovah.and then there would be PEACE.

17th Angel · 11-17-2006, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prober

Matthew 5:38-45 "...resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee an thy right cheek, turn to him the other also...Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be children of your Father which is in heaven..."

Romans 12:17-21 "Recompense to no man evil for evil...avenge not yourselves...Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."

(of course, read the whole text)

If we as Christians took these words seriously, would we be in Iraq and Afganistan?

Would 9/11 have happened?

Would there be any reason to fear "terrorism"?

Would there be any "terrorism"?

What a wonderful world this could be!

You are indeed correct.... IF you all lived by what you say you live by, then no you wouldn't be fighting in Iraq and afgan or wherever....