Does God really avenge us when others do evil against us

[angeltrue]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

 

[frater_domus]

Probably not in this life, but most certainly in the next. Look at passages like 1 Peter 3:9 and 2 Thessalonians 1:8 for example. However, it is also written that God does not want anyone to perish (see 2 Peter 3:9). So it makes sense to wait. We want justice now, but if we love God, we will understand that it is better to wait, in case the person comes around in the end. If the person in question stands before God, the fate of that person is pretty much sealed if that person has no come around and repented then he won't do so anymore and has denied God, so then God may judge and avenge the wronged.

When someone does something unjust towards me, I usually think this way: If the person is faithful and this was just an unfortunate moment, so I have no ill will towards the person. If the person is always this bad, then God will take action far better than I ever could, so there is no reason to repay evil wih evil.
This mostly applies to minor transgressions though. I have yet to experience any major things that some have gone through. To be honest, I have no idea if I could hold up this stance, because once emotions take over, it is hard to focus. Well, I can't. But God can

 

[black.hawk]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

According to Scripture, Christians have been commanded not to retaliate, nor to take revenge - Since God alone has the right to take revenge, and he will avenge all those who have suffered and have been persecuted on account of their faith in the Gospel.

Retribution is vicarious in the Age of the New Covenant, which is according to Matthew 25:41-46, Romans 12:19, and 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8.

 

[Sabertooth]

God avenges the sin, itself.

If the person who did the evil is not separated from it (by Salvation/Repentance), they will be judged along with it.

If that person does get separated from their sin, that judgment was borne by Jesus on the Cross (on their behalf).

 

[GandalfTheWise]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

The Apostle Paul did evil to Christians before His conversion. God wants all to be saved including those who've done great evil. In general, I think it is best to view people through God's eyes as sinners in need of redemption who have the potential to become new creations in Christ.

Having said that, there are some people it is best for us to stay away from because they are unhealthy or dangerous to be around.

 

[R. Hartono]

The Apostle Paul did evil to Christians before His conversion. God wants all to be saved

That explains why God do not avenge bad deed immediately.
God needs to give a second chance for sometimes and He looked into it !
Trust me, people will die sooner or later be4 they can anticipate it and if they dont repent they are on their own route to hell.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

I believe God said "Vengeance is mine" because He is so much better at it than we are. He knows facts that we don't. He sees behind the scenes, knows the thought processes, and other things we just have no way to know. That's why I think it's best left up to Him. We might act in haste without knowing something crucial. And then if it is well deserved after all, He's got far more power than we have.

 

[~Anastasia~]

It's really much healthier for us spiritually to just put ALL thought of retribution/vengeance out of our minds entirely. Whether or not God will exact on our behalf - is really a thought that locks us into the mindset of holding onto hurt, preventing our healing and development of the kind of love God desires us to have. It can prevent our fogiviving of others, which is essential for our own forgiveness in Christ. It is connected to pride. And so on ...

I understand there is a good aspect within there of looking to God for our needs and turning things over to Him to care for us. This is healthy. But it can be cultivated apart from a desire for retribution on our part.

God be with you.

 

[Hearingheart]

So, is everyone saying here that we are not to take issues to court or sue people?

 

[~Anastasia~]

So, is everyone saying here that we are not to take issues to court or sue people?

There is such a thing as justice that needs to be dealt in this world according to the authorities.

It really depends on the situation?

Specifically, if a brother in Christ has not paid what he owes, we can try to forgive the debt. If that presents too great a hardship - if our children will go hungry and the other is able to afford, then it is not good for the sake of one who owes to let it go. It is best handled within the Church, if the Church is healthy and able to function this way. We are not supposed to drag our brother before civil authorities in such a matter.

However ... if someone is performing criminal acts which deliberately hurt other people, that is a proper matter for civil justice. The authorities should be brought in, and further innocents protected. Again, ideally, the Church could have a role in attempting to lead the one committing the crime to repentance and restoration if they are Christian. But if they are not, they might not accept such overtures and it's not really the part of the Church to press.

If it's simple offense against someone where only pride was really injured, the proper response is to forgive as immediately as possible.

So it depends on the situation.

 

[frater_domus]

So, is everyone saying here that we are not to take issues to court or sue people?

Do not repay evil with evil is the main point here. To take legal action in order to prevent further bad things from happening or lock up a criminal to prevent further damage to innocent people is not the same as taking someone to court out of spite or kill someone for revenge.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

Yes I have, the relative who sexually abused me got his because he lied and continued doing much evil...including parading as a minister.
God ain't letting that go.
This man was taken down and when I saw it happening I didn't gloat because
the Bible say not to do that. So keep that in mind... scripture on that here:
Proverbs 24:17 "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; 18 Or the LORD will see it and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him."

I've seen many reap from what they have sown...it be like the Bible say.
We all reap from what we sow.

So don't gloat or let your heart glad, be wise; pray that you be able to stand
and be able to walk humbly with God.
That's what I know of this matter.

 

[longwait]

Some He avenges in this lifetime while others get away with it for now but will be judged for everything on judgement day.
"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each person according to what he has done. Revelation 22:12

 

[Ancient of Days]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

Yes he does and he will. But NOT until we have forgiven them that have hurt us directly.

 

[Timahani]

THIS ONE IS A MUST READ!!!!!

Yes! God does avenge us! However, it is according to His righteous judgement! To make a long story short. I was critically ill and on my death bed. While at work, this girl was like making fun of me because I had lost my hair . I had tubes in my arms, and I was getting weekly treatment. I was struggling to maintain a job. The day she was making fun of me. I said, what is wrong with you? Why would you make fun of someone who is ill. The next day, she was not at work. 2 days went by and she wasn't at work. I asked her friend what was wrong. She stated, that day "Coco" was in an accident. She is very sick and has broken her neck. Her brand new truck is completely totaled. She is so ill that she will not be able to return to work. She is also unsure how she will meet her bills. I kept quiet. But I new in my heart. That God wasn't about to let anyone degrade me.

 

[Andrew77]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

Ironically, I never realized it until you asked the question. Yes. It has happened.

So I was at another job than where I am now, and there was a woman there who lost her mind. She started treating me like crap, which ended with her ultimately saying some.... colorful but unkind things. I finally had a enough.

I quit the job, and found another. However, on my last week, my boss called me into the office.

He first asked me if there was anything I'd like to tell him. I declined. Then he told me that the lady had informed him that she had said some terrible things, and that he should talk to me about it. She also apparently said I was not doing my job.

He remarked that he intentionally waited for me, to come to him and complain about her, but was so impressed that I never did. And that he was impressed that I didn't talk bad about her, and that I was willing to let it go, even when he prompted me to do so.

He went on to tell me that he was always happy with my work, and my conduct at the company, and that he was had given me glowing recommendations to those calling for a reference.

As I wager you can imagine, I was flying over the to tops of mountains for about a week after that.

Can't say that happens often, or even rarely. More like once in my whole entire life.

I have no idea what happened to that lady, or if anything happened. I don't think that when G-d passes judgement, that he always lets us see it, or that it happens how we would want it.

But I sure felt vindicated from my abuser.

 

[discipler7]

This is something I've struggled with. I've seen people do great evil due to their selfishness and jealousy. Have you seen God avenge as Scripture says? How have you handled this?

.
In general, God only helps those who could not help or avenge themselves, eg ROMANS.12:19-21 = in 70AD, the Holy Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed when God cursed/punished the influential/powerful Jewish Temple authorities and the Jews/Pharisees for persecuting the apostles and early Jewish Christians as heretics. Nearly all the apostles were martyred for their faith in Christ.

God's people are to obey His Word/Law/commandments, eg "Love your neighbor/friend as yourself and hate your enemy(as the devil)".(MATTHEW.5:43) There is nothing much God can do if His people go and foolishly "love their enemies", "turn the other cheek" and "pluck out their eyes and chop off their limbs", eg foolishly love Muslim ISIS/Daesh terrorists, love unrepentant sinners, criminals, atheists, LGBTQs, etc.
....... “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."(MATTHEW.7:6)

There are God's Law and national Law, eg US Law and Roman Law(= Caesar). God's people are to "render unto Caesar(= government) what belongs to Caesar and unto God what belongs to God", eg they should pay government taxes and holy tithes of about 3%.(MATTHEW.22:21) US Law permits adultery, divorce, fornication, homosexuality/same-sex marriage, sodomy, idolatry, blasphemy, etc. God's Law does not. This legal matter will be settled when Jesus Christ returns to earth to exact vengeance against the unbelievers and unrepentant law-breakers.(1THESSALONIANS.4:16, 2THESS.2:8)

When it comes to the Law, His people are to not take the Law into their own hands, when there is already a proper law enforcement agency to act against offenders/criminals, eg murderers, rapists, thieves, etc. US Christians should not persecute homosexuals, atheists, adulterers, idolaters, etc because it's against US Law.
....... His people usually have to only deal with minor offenses themselves, eg by not mixing with unrepentant offenders and toxic people.(2CORINTHIANS.6:14) Instead, Christians should "love their brothers and sisters in Christ".

 

[black.hawk]

Do not repay evil with evil is the main point here. To take legal action in order to prevent further bad things from happening or lock up a criminal to prevent further damage to innocent people is not the same as taking someone to court out of spite or kill someone for revenge.

I agree that Jesus taught his disciples not to repay evil with evil (Matthew 5:38-39) and he even told them to love their enemies (Matthew 5:43-44); but I don't think there is anything in the Bible to say that we shouldn't dissociate from those who have wronged us.

Take for instance, the mass migration of Ashkenazi Jews into W. Europe to escape antisemitism in Russia. Most of these Jews have subsequently traveled to England and the USA to escape from Nazi occupied Europe.

Consequently, the sudden departure of prominent scientists such as Albert Einstein et al was strategically important to America's nuclear weapons program during WWII, as much as it may have prevented the Nazis developing the first atomic weapon.

However, in stark contrast to migration and dissociation from the enemy, the Black Americans have opted to challenge and reform their political system, to more or less reconcile with the Slave owners.

However, there are some who argue that migration and dissociation from the enemy is far better and more dignified than moaning and groaning and complaining about persecution by the State; but you don't have to be a Jew to think like this - Since any intelligent person is capable of using such tactics.

You don't have to be a Jew to deprive the Enemy of something which is strategically important.

Basically, it seems that there is nothing in Scripture to say that one should never dissociate from the enemy, since migration or dissociation is compatible with Matthew 5:38-39 and 5:43-44.

Although Matthew 5 requires a charitable response to the enemy, it does not require 'reconciliation' as such.

 

[lastofall]

It is in the day of judgment when God shall give to every person according to their works.

 

[angeltrue]

The Apostle Paul did evil to Christians before His conversion. God wants all to be saved including those who've done great evil. In general, I think it is best to view people through God's eyes as sinners in need of redemption who have the potential to become new creations in Christ.

Having said that, there are some people it is best for us to stay away from because they are unhealthy or dangerous to be around.

I agree with that and did just that. I wondered though if God paid them back because their actions were so ugly. I have not seen this and it was troubling, in spite of knowing psalm 73 and Romans 12:19.