Biblical command to 'turn the other cheek' doesn't mean Christians should 'tolerate tyranny'

[BPPLEE]

Ah, so "turn the other cheek" only applies when it earns us brownie points so we can get that sweet sweet heavenly swag.

-CryptoLutheran.

No. No one ever died from a slap. We shouldn’t respond to disrespect. That doesn’t mean letting someone beat you to death and not defending yourself

 

[rambot]

Jesus allowed that to happen because he was paying for our sins. If you are talking about being a martyr for the sake of Christ I agree with you. There were times when a crowd sought to harm Jesus but he slipped away. He didn’t allow it to happen.
Being persecuted for our religion is something we should take joy in. Allowing it for any other reason is not not biblical

And yet I haven't heard biblical evidence to the contrary....

 

[BPPLEE]

And yet I haven't heard biblical evidence to the contrary....

Plenty of evidence in the Old Testament. How many of your eyeballs have you plucked out?

 

[rambot]

No. No one ever died from a slap. We shouldn’t respond to disrespect. That doesn’t mean letting someone beat you to death and not defending yourself

Running away is not defending yourself.

Jesus ran away.

 

[rambot]

Plenty of evidence in the Old Testament. How many of your eyeballs have you plucked out?

I've already explained why that is not instructive

 

[BPPLEE]

I've already explained why that is not instructive

Jesus couldn’t be clearer.
Mat 5:29 - And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for itis profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy wholebody should be cast into hell.

Mat 18:9 - And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it isbetter for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be castinto hell fire.

Mar 9:47 - And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enterinto the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Now, obey the Word. Follow Jesus.

 

[FireDragon76]

Ah, so "turn the other cheek" only applies when it earns us brownie points so we can get that sweet sweet heavenly swag.

-CryptoLutheran.

Protestants have always struggled to make sense of the Sermon on the Mount.

I understand it as Jesus person and preaching are not two separate things, the Sermon on the Mount reflects Jesus', and by extension, God's character. There isn't some dispensation in the future where "turn the other cheek" becomes true, but today can simply be ignored.

 

[BPPLEE]

Protestants have always struggled to make sense of the Sermon on the Mount.

I understand it as Jesus person and preaching are not two separate things, the Sermon on the Mount reflects Jesus', and by extension, God's character. There isn't some dispensation in the future where "turn the other cheek" becomes true, but today can simply be ignored.

I’m not ignoring it but I feel it applies to disrespect and not bodily harm. I don’t see the people who take it literally plucking out their eyes or cutting off their hands.

 

[rambot]

Jesus couldn’t be clearer.
Mat 5:29 - And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for itis profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy wholebody should be cast into hell.

Mat 18:9 - And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it isbetter for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be castinto hell fire.

Mar 9:47 - And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enterinto the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
Now, obey the Word. Follow Jesus.

I have no idea why you posted that.

 

[rambot]

Serious question here.

In order for a person to be well educated and well informed, do you believe that it's a prerequisite that a person has a college degree from a reputable and respected university?

I don't think it's a prerequisite but that person has been assessed about their knowledge so, depending on the topic of course, it can be safe to assume.

What do you think a college diploma or degree represents?

 

[BPPLEE]

I don't think it's a prerequisite but that person has been assessed about their knowledge so, depending on the topic of course, it can be safe to assume.

What do you think a college diploma or degree represents?

I didn’t have to but I got a degree in biblical studies through a correspondence course when I was a Youth Pastor. I also fill in when my Pastor took off and for other Churches

 

[BPPLEE]

I have no idea why you posted that.

You were adamant that we are to follow Jesus. You’re not doing what he said. You haven’t plucked your eye out or cut off your hand have you?

 

[BPPLEE]

Running away is not defending yourself.

Jesus ran away.

He didn’t stand there and take it. He took action to prevent it. Running away is one very good way to defend yourself. Have you never heard of Run-Hide—Fight?

 

[expos4ever]

Surely other members of the cast of Growing Pains have some thoughts on the matter.

Ouch, shots fired.

 

[rambot]

You were adamant that we are to follow Jesus. You’re not doing what he said. You haven’t plucked your eye out or cut off your hand have you?

I have had ministers discuss this with great exegenesis. I am comfortable with my understanding there too.
Hope you're not wearing a mixed fabric shirt.

 

[rambot]

He didn’t stand there and take it. He took action to prevent it. Running away is one very good way to defend yourself. Have you never heard of Run-Hide—Fight?

Yes. I read that Jesus left.

Is the US still defending Vietnam then? Or are you in the hide phase right now?

 

[BPPLEE]

I have had ministers discuss this with great exegenesis. I am comfortable with my understanding there too.
Hope you're not wearing a mixed fabric shirt.

Jesus didn’t say anything about mixed fabrics. That’s Old Testament. Be consistent. You said we should only follow Jesus’ example

 

[BPPLEE]

Yes. I read that Jesus left.

Is the US still defending Vietnam then? Or are you in the hide phase right now?

They took the run phase way back when I was a kid.

 

[rambot]

Jesus didn’t say anything about mixed fabrics. That’s Old Testament. Be consistent. You said we should only follow Jesus’ example

And you said the same for the Old. That's why I was saying that about you.

I explained that my pastors exegenesis led me to an understanding that makes sense for me.

Funny you mention that verse. My father has a schizophrenic friend who believed that verse was meant to be taken literally (as...APPARENTLY. you do too). He literally cut off his hand just above the wrist. He's in our province's most supportive mental health ward.

Poor guy. Dad still sees him weekly when he's in Edmonton.

 

[rambot]

You were adamant that we are to follow Jesus. You’re not doing what he said. You haven’t plucked your eye out or cut off your hand have you?

Did you know Jesus and many great spiritual leaders in that time used figurative language commonly?

Maybe you can find some figurative language somewhere in the new testement where Jesus tells us to beat people?