// The Second Mile \\ How are we meant to handle aggressive, antagonistic forces directed against us? The Old Testament justified revenge. But Jesus inaugurates an entirely new concept. He guides us into a whole new set of responses to difficult moments in life. He knows that once we are bent on revenge, our hearts sour and we become bitter. He also knows that once we’re bitter within, our life will also become bitter. He’s trying to lead us into blessed life, and one that pleases God. Mat 5:38 ‘You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Mat 5:39 ‘But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. Mat 5:40 ‘If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. Mat 5:41 ‘And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. This concept begins with the contrast between Old and New Testament values. Under Old Testament rules justice was available for everyone. Whatever harm someone did to you could be returned against them. This principle is clear and simple. If one person inflicts an injury upon another, the same injury shall be inflicted upon them. Exo 21:23 ‘But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ‘burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. This sounds fair. However Jesus says His ways are not our ways. Moses’ law confirmed our natural instinct for revenge when we’ve been wronged. However, Jesus points to a new, different life placing higher demands upon us. He is saying roll with the punches. Dont react in like manner. Be pro-active, not reactive. Jesus is actually showing us how we regain the initiative. We remove power from aggression when we agree with it! Robert Schuller in his book on ‘self-love’ tells the story of a black judge who rose from the ghettos to hold his high position in the community. He said he would never be brought down to the level of a man who hated him, by hating him back. The Apostle Paul also echoes Jesus instructions; Rom 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. The context of this Scripture is overcoming the incredible urge and very natural reaction of revenge. In Luke Chapter 9, Jesus enters a Samaritan village and the people reject Him. He was on His way to Jerusalem. He was a Jew. The prejudice and hatred between Samaritans and Jews was strong. For centuries they had held enmity against each other. It was like the Irish Catholics and the English Protestants, the Bosnians and the Serbs, the Japanese and the Koreans. The disciples are incensed. Their answer to this rejection was to react in exactly the way and reject them, and now with the God on their side, they could summon fire from heaven to incinerate them all! Jesus rebukes them. He reminds why He is here. Luke 9:55 ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. ‘For the Son of Man did not come to destroy mens lives but to save them.’ And they went to another village. Jesus simply moved on to the next village. The high price of getting even is not to be underestimated. Macmillan, in his book, ‘None of these Diseases’, talks of people with cancers, rheumatism, arthritis, stomach complaints, migraines all due to the nursing of revenge and hatred. Ezek 25:15 Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,’ therefore thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, The Philistines had nursed an ‘old hatred’, rather than moving on, forgiving and forgetting. Because of this, the hand of God was stretched out against them with all kinds of trouble. However, this concept is not a requirement for Christians to put up with whatever people or governments decide to bring upon them. We are not required to meekly accept being taken advantage of. (Paul speaks sarcastically of Christians who tolerate abuse of themselves. 2 Corinthians 11:19). It’s important to be able to bring a just and fair result to a hateful circumstance without being motivated by revenge. We need to overcome our desire to take revenge by reacting with the love of God. This means we stay calm; we forgive people before they apologise. We don’t let anger arouse words or action. We stay quiet. We give ourselves enough time, whether it’s a day, or a week or a year before we can deal with the problem from an attitude without rancor. Evil feeds on reaction. Violence feeds on reaction. If you refuse to react violently to a violent action, the violence loses its force. Its power is stolen. You have starved one of the most personally destructive emotions we can harbour. Pr 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. See you in church friends
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:47:03 +0000