Turning the other cheek doesn't seem to work in reality

[Radrook]

Some predatory people who enjoy provoking others are encouraged to increase the intensity of their persecution when they get no intimidating or threatening response. Telling people that you are dedicated Christian at the place of employment can cause a host of such people to descend on you just to prove that you aren't different than they are and that they can make you lose your Christianity sooner or later.

So if indeed your policy is to turn the other cheek, don't proclaim it at your place of employment where you are surrounded by wolves unless you are willing to be targeted and have to prove that you are 100% sincere while trying to keep your mind on your job.

 

[timewerx]

Some predatory people who enjoy provoking others are encouraged to increase the intensity of their persecution when they get no intimidating or threatening response. Telling people that you are dedicated Christian at the place of employment can cause a host of such people to descend on you just to prove that you aren't different than they are and that they can make you lose your Christianity sooner or later.

So if indeed your policy is to turn the other cheek, don't proclaim it at your place of employment where you are surrounded by wolves unless you are willing to be targeted and have to prove that you are 100% sincere while trying to keep your mind on your job.

I've been to four different jobs already. The first two were white collar the last two blue collar. All of them knows I'm a Christian but not met such treatment yet.

Of course, I didn't tell them them "turn the cheek policy". But I love the different context presented here by JackRT and HerCrazierHalf which is a subtle form of retaliation.

In the modern context, I think you could let them slap you while you tape their actions on your own hidden cam and report the incident to HR or w/e with the video evidence! Of course, never tell anyone at any point that you taped them - videotaping may be against the company policy itself although at certain circumstances, it could be overruled if it was specifically used to catch a violation.

 

[timewerx]

Who is Christian Values? Must be a cool guy to secretly be the basis for Western laws

But however, even in my snark, I can say there is some truth to the statement. For instance the criminalization of consensual sexual acts is pretty dumb. But other than that the statement is pretty false.

Sorry, I'm using a cipher app. Don't ask why and please don't mention it if you figured out what the code word meant

Yes criminalization of consensual sexual acts is pretty dumb!

 

[quatona]

Turning the other cheek doesn't seem to work in reality

What do you mean - "work"? What would have to be the result of turning the other cheek in order for you to say "it works"?

 

[Eudaimonist]

When offenses are let go, not met with justice and nothing done at all, evildoers continue in their evil works.

Considering that Christianity is an other-worldly doctrine, what they mean by "reality" isn't limited to this world. For them, turning the other cheek "works" even if this-world burns and becomes like something out of the Road Warrior.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[now faith]

Matthew 5:39 --- “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” --- In an honour/shame, domination/submission culture such as existed in the first century in the middle East, this saying has a far different meaning than a straightforward reading of it might indicate. If a man were to strike a social equal, he would strike him with the palm of his right hand on the left cheek. However if a man were to slap a social inferior he would do so with the back of his hand to the inferior’s right cheek. If the inferior were then to turn his other cheek it would force his assailant to treat him as a social equal by striking with the palm of his right hand. Since slapping is no longer a widespread cultural practice, it can be helpful if you could actually act this out with another person. Jesus’ audience likely would have had a good laugh at his comment. Jesus is not counseling humility here, he is counseling a covert defiance.

No disrespect but the teaching from Christ is of a spiritual context.

Matthew: 5. 39. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45. That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47. And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

His teaching is for our lives to be holy, set apart from the world.

Anyone can love someone who loves them,or give respect to those who respect us.

It takes the love of God in us to love unconditionally, or pray for those who would cause us harm.

It is a example of another verse as well: Be ye holy for I am holy.

 

[JackRT]

No disrespect but the teaching from Christ is of a spiritual context.

No disrespect noticed. The teaching's of Jesus are frequently but not entirely spiritual. He also very much took the part of the poor and marginalized against the rich and powerful.

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Yes sin is associated with poor health and negative lifestyle, inhumane, counterproductive attitudes etc. ALthough they may fit the bill in some way there're not really imparatives we can rely on.


But he took a path of personal intervention, as a missionary more than a politician. So asking who hes gonna vote for is a bit like asking what wallpaper hes choosing. It misses the point of the Christian lifestyle and message.

I am thinking here of daycentre visitors, often they have "issues" (drugs drink fighting etc), and the Christian churches try to bring them to a fuller life. But day centres are sometimes more about serving physical needs rather than all out spiritual leadership.

Some will "win" and some will "lose" in each political system. With each change of government...

The laws and culture bind some (to suffer) and loosen others (to enjoy life ). I think Jesus intended to help the losers find their way. Into the healthy mesh of mainstream society.

 

[timewerx]

I think Jesus intended to help the losers find their way. Into the healthy mesh of mainstream society.

That's the opposite of what the Bible is saying on such matters.

John 15:19
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

If Vincent Van Gogh became mainstream, he would be NOTHING today. Completely forgotten like the mainstream majority.

 

[ScottA]

Western laws are base on Christian values.

When self-defense could land you into trouble, it emboldens would-be criminals.

When offenses are let go, not met with justice and nothing done at all, evildoers continue in their evil works.

Nothing deters them and evil is perpetuated.


The only good it seems to serve is to test the good to mold the good into something with teeth. But it seldom changes the bad, if at all. It seems to rather doom the evil into keeping doing evil until one day, they are caught with their pants down....And who will catch them? God? or is it you?

The "turn the other cheek" passage is Jesus' way of saying, "You think the law is hard, you don't know the half of it, that's nothing!" He is saying (just as Paul later did) that the law is/was our school master...but really, it goes beyond that to a point where there is no sin or violence.

If you keep reading, He was preparing them for the following verse, that: "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." He is simply elaborating on the terms of our overall stay in the world.

 

[now faith]

No disrespect noticed. The teaching's of Jesus are frequently but not entirely spiritual. He also very much took the part of the poor and marginalized against the rich and powerful.

He was contrary to religon for status or personal gain,Christ knows the hearts of all man kind.

He would expose the motives in those who were hyper religious, knowing their hypocrisy.

I believe he understood the heart of everyone he ministered to.

The rich young ruler was obedient in all ,but could not turn loose of his possession.
The Centurion showed great faith,and knew he was the Messiah.

I believe Nicodemus found salvation in Christ,after their meeting I can not prove it but Nicodemus was seeking and knew who Jesus was.

 

[Shempster]

Remember, when Jesus talked about that issue, he was showing the disciples the ultimate target....to simply let an aggressor overcome you and perhaps take it all the way to your death from said aggressor.
I am glad that he knows we all cannot hit the highest target. We should try and do our best, but I believe God gives us lee-way with this issue. Returning violence with violence is not his perfect will but I do not think we would not be disciplined too hard if we throw a well deserved punch.
I like shooting targets, but violence with guns is not a good idea.

 

[Willis Gravning]

Western laws are base on Christian values.

When self-defense could land you into trouble, it emboldens would-be criminals.

When offenses are let go, not met with justice and nothing done at all, evildoers continue in their evil works.

Nothing deters them and evil is perpetuated.


The only good it seems to serve is to test the good to mold the good into something with teeth. But it seldom changes the bad, if at all. It seems to rather doom the evil into keeping doing evil until one day, they are caught with their pants down....And who will catch them? God? or is it you?

I came across this story of an aikido martial arts master which I think is a wonderful illustration. http://www.laurentnajman.org/Aikido/TerryDobson.htm

 

[Radrook]

I've been to four different jobs already. The first two were white collar the last two blue collar. All of them knows I'm a Christian but not met such treatment yet.

Of course, I didn't tell them them "turn the cheek policy". But I love the different context presented here by JackRT and HerCrazierHalf which is a subtle form of retaliation.

In the modern context, I think you could let them slap you while you tape their actions on your own hidden cam and report the incident to HR or w/e with the video evidence! Of course, never tell anyone at any point that you taped them - videotaping may be against the company policy itself although at certain circumstances, it could be overruled if it was specifically used to catch a violation.

I lost several jobs and my son lost one because we revealed that we were Christians of the pacifist ilk. So guess our experiences differ considerably in that area.

 

[Chriliman]

Western laws are base on Christian values.

When self-defense could land you into trouble, it emboldens would-be criminals.

When offenses are let go, not met with justice and nothing done at all, evildoers continue in their evil works.

Nothing deters them and evil is perpetuated.


The only good it seems to serve is to test the good to mold the good into something with teeth. But it seldom changes the bad, if at all. It seems to rather doom the evil into keeping doing evil until one day, they are caught with their pants down....And who will catch them? God? or is it you?

If you strive to put God first in every moment of your life, you will be able to effectively rebuke evil wherever it pops it's ugly head up. To an evil doer, the acts of God are unexpected and take them off guard, which can hopefully lead them to repentance.

Ultimately what Jesus accomplished was the eternal rebuke of evil.

We can trust in Him and in Him we have eternal peace. Amen!

 

[timewerx]

I lost several jobs and my son lost one because we revealed that we were Christians of the pacifist ilk. So guess our experiences differ considerably in that area.

Sorry for that. I don't tell my co-workers the specifics about Christian beliefs in general. The fact they know you simply as a Christian, some would actually expect a higher quality of work and relations from you!

 

[Radrook]

Sorry for that. I don't tell my co-workers the specifics about Christian beliefs in general. The fact they know you simply as a Christian, some would actually expect a higher quality of work and relations from you!

Identifying as a Christian isn't really what causes the trouble. It's the Christian denomination you identify with and how the persons perceive that specific denomination. Some people, even professed Christians, sometimes harbor a deep dislike and even hatred for some denominations and seem to feel it their duty to express that dislike in very forceful insulting ways.

Christians whose denominations require proselyting or preaching might be more prone to wind up in such situations.

 

[Neochristian]

Not if you're so weak you want to appear strong. The working it is supposed to do is heal the doer and make the world more harmonious.


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