Turn the other cheek

[Dream]

Jesus says: "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Matthew 5:38.

That's defintely not an easy message to follow, but an incredible message at that.

But what happens when someone strikes your loved one on the right cheek? Are you supposed to tell your spouse turn the other cheek?

What if it's your child? Are you supposed to tell your child turn the other cheek?

What if it's the unborn? Does Jesus want you to sit passively while millions are being killed?

 

[Dream]

Bump

 

[Lifesaver]

Thank you for reminding us of this important teaching, which we are all bound to obey.

But let me also point that a slap across the cheek is an insult: a one time agression.

Since this is the case, the Christian response is to not make things even worse by returning the slap, but forgive the person and try to put an end to the agressions.
Were we to act otherwise, we would only elicit even more violence.

But when the violence is constant, when the abuse doesn't stop, then we ought to act to put an end to it, to repress the offenses and repay the wrongdoings justly. Not only does that end an unfair situation, but, once effectively punished, the wrongdoer stops acting in the way he was acting. That is, punishment may effectively make the punished one sin less.

So we have to stand up against these horrid abuses which are commited against the most innocent beings of all: babies still in the womb.
That doesn't mean picking guns and making justice with one's own hands (although someday it might even come to that extreme), but joining protests, informing people at clinics, proposing life-preserving laws, voting for pro-life candidates or even just convincing one's friends and relatives of the evil of abortion.
Which is not a slap across anyone's face, but an ongoing crime of genocide, in the countries where it is allowed.

 

[Dream]

Thank you for reminding us of this important teaching, which we are all bound to obey.

But let me also point that a slap across the cheek is an insult: a one time agression.

Since this is the case, the Christian response is to not make things even worse by returning the slap, but forgive the person and try to put an end to the agressions.
Were we to act otherwise, we would only elicit even more violence.

But when the violence is constant, when the abuse doesn't stop, then we ought to act to put an end to it, to repress the offenses and repay the wrongdoings justly. Not only does that end an unfair situation, but, once effectively punished, the wrongdoer stops acting in the way he was acting. That is, punishment may effectively make the punished one sin less.

So we have to stand up against these horrid abuses which are commited against the most innocent beings of all: babies still in the womb.
That doesn't mean picking guns and making justice with one's own hands (although someday it might even come to that extreme), but joining protests, informing people at clinics, proposing life-preserving laws, voting for pro-life candidates or even just convincing one's friends and relatives of the evil of abortion.
Which is not a slap across anyone's face, but an ongoing crime of genocide, in the countries where it is allowed.

You bring up some very good points and I applaude you for the excellent post.

But still, Jesus did not defend himself at all when he was arrested, beaten, and killed. Peter tried to defend him (in a violent way) and Jesus scolded him.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Somebody in the "Abortion and War" thread, I think- posted some awesome reflections on the "turn the other cheek" metaphor- and that it has a very specific cultural context- with a different connotation then that which we usually assign to it.. IfI can fin it I'll paste it here ..

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Found it!

I think the turn the other check is generally misunderstood because we fail to understand the culture and times Jesus was in . .

Then, if someone hit you (imagine someone slapping you on the face . . it is their palm, right?) they it you with the flat of their palm. If you turned the other check (literally) and they tried to strike you again, they would be forced to backhand you . . now, this demeaned them if you forced them to do so . . you would be preventing them from hitting you again and demonstrating the error of their actions plainly without a word or fight.

Same with the admonishion of carrying a load the extra mile . . the Romans were able to force someone to carry something, but only for a mile . . if they made someone carry it for farther then that they could get in serious trouble . . so, carrying it for another mile was something that would put the soldier in a dreadful position . . if you carried it beyond to proscribed limit, you were turning the tables on the soldier and where he initially forced you to carry something against your will, now you would be putting him in a position of begging you to give it back . .very humbling to the soldier, and an action that would make him think twice of forcing someone to his will again . .

The one about the cloak also is the same . . if you were to give them your undergarment, then you wold be essentially naked . . imagine standing in public when soemone made you give them your cloak . . if you took off all your clothes, at least down to your underwear and handed them over as well, how do you think it would make the other person look to everyone around them?

This is what Christ was speaking of . . today these analogies do not hold. . because we are not in the same culture or times . .

What Christ was saying is respond to them in such a way that gently and lovingly shows them their error . .


Peace in Him!

 

[Dream]

Found it!

I have heard that before, but in a different context. Thank you for bringing that up.

 

[Dream]

I still don't understand the part about back-handing though.

 

[Dream]

they would be forced to backhand you . . now, this demeaned them if you forced them to do so

What does this mean?