Wow, four hours of conversation...feeling much better about things. I took a ton away from the conversation, probably too much for a post, but I will try and highlight the major points.
Point 1.
We are not called to be victims, we are called to love. Jesus was no victim, and chose His fate on the cross to serve a purpose. The choice to be harmed in any confrontation, is one of purpose. Turning the other cheek is no designed to make us endure pain, but rather to shine brightly when we have the opportunity to forgive those things that violate some right or expectation we have as individuals. In other words, there are things worth fighting for and things we should let go. This is often and individual issue according to a persons ability to process the information and outcomes of their decisions. We all walk at different speeds, and have different abilities to influence the outcome of an encounter. Any time you can turn the other cheek, it shows strength if faith...and for those who are dangerous in their physical skills and abilities to visit harm in return...turning your cheek is also and act of mercy, and love.
Point 2.
There is another side to this coin. As an Icon of Christ, we have an obligation to protect the image of God when others do not respect it, either in us, or themselves, and do not take the opportunity to accept the mercy we would extend to them if they abandon their attack. We cannot decide that for them, it is their choice. Acting in defense of ourselves can equally be an act of mercy, because it forces the enemy to reflect on their actions, and hopefully find the error of their ways. This is also love.
Point 3.
As you heal your relationship with God throughout your life, and you gain wisdom, your discernment in action becomes more complete. Your restraint grows, as does your resolve to show mercy and love in the proper form for each given situation. Whether it is protecting yourself, your family, and your Church. As you grow your faith and the Holy Spirits presence in your life, evil knows who you are with more certainty. Sometimes this will lead to more attacks, but also lessens the odds of victory for your enemy, no matter the outcome. Evil knows this, and prefers to attack where it is certain of victory. Evil is lazy in that respect. Its resolve is constant, but its preferred path is that of least resistance. It will attack your human weakness before taking on the presence of God within you.
The moral here? Be strong in faith first, but also strong in physical terms. Be resolute, steadfast, and unafraid. Weaker men will tremble at your feet, and those who ally with evil will have to face you on two fronts, where your victory is always assured on one of them, and will be blessed in the other. "Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God."
Some other interesting tidbits I didn't know or had forgotten:
-There are nuns in Kosovo that carry Glocks.
-Many or our Martyrs were warriors before the sacrificed themselves.
-Even in the Old Testament, God gave Israel's enemies opportunities to abandon their wickedness and attacks before He authorized their destruction.
-You only have two cheeks. There is a lesson there as well. Restraint is honorable, but there is a limit to what we are expected to endure without action.
There was so much more we covered, but it was like drinking form a fire hose. The long and short of it is this:
We are not victims, but rather victors...and that has many forms. There is a place for men like me at the table of the Kingdom of God, and I am eternally grateful to my creator for my personality and core of conviction in strength. Part of my role in life is to cultivate the strength of others, and now I can see that. Amen!
The early believers lived in an era where slavery was allowed in the Empire and often abusive...and Paul could have said that he didn't think slavery should exist. But he went for the heart of the issue by saying that both slaves/masters needed to learn to love one another and serve each other faithfully. Although he said a slave should seek his or her freedom if they had the chance (I Corinthians 7), he set it up to where believers could be subversive to the worldly systems of the day by living in such a way that people on the outside would marvel at how believers do things.....and thus, they'd effectively convict/change the hearts of others. Some of it has a pragmatic aspect to it as well, seeing how you can't just write openly that you're against certain things since your mail/letters are investigated and inspected...and in many ways, if the empire supported/thrived on an industry you saw as corrupt, to speak against it could be deadly. Thus, wisdom would dictate to write in such a way as to get your message out without coming out too strongly on it so that people who understood you/had your heart would see where you're coming from.
