by Lisa Laizure
The World : To be great, you need to climb to the top of the ladder where others will serve you.
The Bible : The greatest among you must be a servant (Matthew 23:11)
The World : You should never have to suffer.
The Bible : For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him (Philippians 1:29)
The World : You should aim to get rich and have lots of stuff.
The Bible : What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
The World : Look out for me!
The Bible : Carry each others burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)
The World : You're in charge of your own fate!
The Bible : Father if you are willing take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done oh Lord (Luke 22:42)
The World : Hold on to life as long as you can.
The Bible : Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the Gospel will save it (Mark 8:35)
The World : Don't get made, get glad by getting even!
The Bible : Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother? Up to 7 times? Jesus answered, "I tell you not seven times, but seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22)
The World : Don't let others take advantage of you!
The Bible : If someone wants to sue you to take your tunic, give him your coat as well (Matthew 5:40)
The World : Don't let others disrespect you!
The Bible : If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also (Matthew 5:39)
Questions.org :
Does this mean that we should never resist when somebody attacks us? Should we let everyone take advantage of us?
No - Jesus denounced the Pharisees who attacked Him in Matthew 23, and objected when He was struck by one of the officers of the high priest in John 18:22-23. Further, He advised His disciples to take measures to defend themselves in Matthew 10:16; Luke 22:36-38
Similarly, the apostle Paul aggressively defended himself against his enemies, asserting his rights as a Roman citizen, and making it clear to his attackers that there could be consequences if he were unlawfully harmed in Acts 23:1-3; 25:14-27
What Jesus asks of His followers is not passivity, but SURRENDER OF THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL REVENGE.
As illustrated above by both Jesus and Paul, there is a difference between confronting evil and seeking personal revenge. It is possible to confront evil with a desire for the redemption of its perpetrator.
If Matthew 5:38-48 were taken literally at all times, we would have to let everyone take advantage of us. Turning the other cheek would become an encouragement for evil. This isn't what Jesus had in mind. His vivid examples illustrate His disciples' need to give up any sense of entitlement to personal revenge, to be purged of the motivation of personal vengeance. By asking them to turn the other cheek, Jesus meant that His disciples should be motivated by love and a desire for the redemption and forgiveness of offenders - even when opposing their actions.
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