Turn the other cheek

[isabella1]

For 19 years I took abuse in a marriage. Before the 20th year, I finally left. I returned that violence with kindness over the years, offered it up, prayed much for my x-husband, and kept turning the other cheek.

Then the Holy Spirit saw fit to remove me from that situation. Probably knowing that it would not change and i had done all I could do in the sight of God.

But no one should stay in that kind of situation even for a year. Why it took me so long to be able to leave, who knows. But praise God I finally did.

Who's time frame was it in, mine or Gods. I don't know that either. Probably God's. They were sure some hard years that I would of liked to have been spared, but it has made me who I am today.

I can say this though, through the years it has taught me to be a much more prayerful person, and now I offer up even the smallest things in my life, which is in no way a match in comparison to what I offered up before.

And yes I still pray for my x. For him to accept what he has done and to receive the Lord's mercy and ask for God's forgiveness. He may have, this I will never know, unless he comes to me and asks for my forgiveness, which I have already done.

 

[ukok]

Jesus does not say we must put ourselves in harm's way, and if turning the other cheek and returning unkindness with kindness does not work then we clearly have the right to remove ourselves and our loved ones from danger.

Phew! I am so relieved to hear you say this, sadly there are still people in this world who consider themselves Christian and who think we (the abused/former abused) should remain in abusive relationships, quite literally, unto death...even if it is premature and as a result of domestic violence.

 

[benedictaoo]

Dear Benedicta,
Jesus tells us to love our enemies and to return kindness to those who visit unkindness upon us; you'll have to take that dangerous teaching up with Him. I hope to clarify the implications in answer to the next two questions.


Jesus does not say we must out ourselves in harm's way, and if turning the other cheek and returning unkindness with kindness does not work then we clearly have the right to remove ourselves and our loved ones from danger.


No. We can, as I say, remove ourselves from harm's way.

I hope that clarifies things. As I say, this is not an academic discussion for the Copts. We live with the reality of potential violence, and its perpetration; what we do not do is to respond in kind.

peace,

Anglian

Okay Anglian... thanks. But I'm a little confused becuase didn't I say the same thing in my initial post? I don't think I posted anything contrary to this. I agree with you, we do not return insult with insult but we don't let ppl walk all over us. That verse does not teach us to be doormats.

you'll have to take that dangerous teaching up with Him.

I don't understand this comment?

I'm not disagreeing with the verse, but the interpretation many twist to say we have to be doormats. No... we don't. Returning kindness for unkindness is not doormathood and that was my main point.

Stopping them for abusing you is returning kindness in some cases. Tolerating abuse of any kind is dangerous and not at all what Jesus said to do.