posted September 07, 2012 07:55 AM            

In a case such as this, it can get confusing. I have been confused. Others are confused. I will tell you about a teaching from Andrew Wommack, on this very subject, as he was wanted to know the answer, as well. Andrew is one of the best Bible teachers for the simple explanation of the Bible. He does not understand Prophecy, and says this, himself. However, for a clear and simple explanation of the Bible and in very practical terms, Andrew is very good.

Andrew is a regular person, as I strive to be. I do not want to be the kind of person who is so "holy" that she takes the fun out of the room as people feel they have to pray when they see her. Jesus was full of life. Jesus had humor. We were made in God's image. If we have humor, God did. Hence, I try to laugh where I can. It is not hard, as life is absurd. However, back to Andrew. Andrew served in the army. He is a normal kind of guy, not a guy who has lived his life in a monastery, but in the normal every day world.

Andrew tackled the above question. He came to an answer which I think it true and with which I subscribe.

Andrew said that one must handle this question from two perspectives, the earthly perspective and the spiritual perspective. Andrew has traveled around the world many times. He has a Bible college. He has a world wide ministry. He has had to learn to deal with all kinds of people. He does not live in a professorial ivory tower. That is one reason I like him. I do not expect to stay cooped up in a sanctimonious box. I want to go out into the world and deal with all kinds of people. I need a guidebook for such. If not, I suspect I( and all Christians) would be cat food to the roaring lions. God does not mean His children to be abused. God does not mean for his children to be punching bags or doormats. Who would want to be a Christian, if this were the job description?It is plain foolishness. However, lets hear from Andrew, not I. Andrew has much more worldly wisdom than I, so I will defer to him, in the rest of this article.

Andrew gave an illustration in his own life. He was sharing the Bible with a man. The man was spitting in his face, literally. Andrew did not stop what he was saying. He finished his words. Andrew said one must endure persecution to promote the Word of God or message of God. There are people who give their lives by going to hostile countries to tell people about Jesus. This is a sacrificial love for God.

However, Andrew said that if someone stole his wallet, he would do whatever he needed to do, to get his wallet back, even wrestle the thief to the ground and fight. Andrew said that a Christian ONLY needs to be abused/turn the other cheek when it is a service to God, not when someone is dumping on him for that person’s emotional reasons. That is totally ridiculous.

More than ridiculous, it is a bad witness to others. No one respects a wimp. God did not call Christians to be wimps. If you had a child, would you want your child to be beaten up and stand there and take it? God is our father. If you put God in the role of a loving father, you will have the answer to most of your questions.

A Christian should have the most dignity, as he is a child of the living God. He should hold himself, as such. He should conduct himself, as such. He is not perfect and will make mistakes. Then, he needs to say he is sorry. However, a Christian does not need to be beaten up by others for no reason that another person’s jealousy or pettiness. I don’t serve a God like that. I would not expect YOU to, either.

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posted September 08, 2012 06:23 AM            

I'm going to stop there on the topic of rape, because I will definitely get furious and have to take a break to calm myself on that.

My personal opinion is that we as Christians are called to be good stewards of what we have. Being a good steward means taking care of yourself.

"Turning the other cheek" doesn't mean that you let people abuse you or walk all over you.

I believe that fighting back is being a good steward of your body in cases of self-defense or to protect someone.

posted September 08, 2012 10:27 PM            

there is a long way between standing by while someone is raped and matching the energy of the rapist. i think this is the meaning of "resist not evil" as well.

posted September 09, 2012 01:14 AM            

Jesus did say:

"Those who live by the sword will die by the sword"

Which pretty much means if violence is your profession, there is a good chance it will come back on you.

He also said

"If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn and give them the other cheek"

Which is originally meant to refer to teaching that Christ was the Messiah, if the other person was offended they would slap the messenger.

That has been taken to mean that Christians should be punching bags, which is not what was intended.

posted September 09, 2012 04:57 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Padre35:

Well to me, the idea of non violence is a good one, the reality is this is a world that has very evil people in it.

Jesus did say:

"Those who live by the sword will die by the sword"

Which pretty much means if violence is your profession, there is a good chance it will come back on you.

He also said

"If someone slaps you on the cheek, turn and give them the other cheek"

Which is originally meant to refer to teaching that Christ was the Messiah, if the other person was offended they would slap the messenger.

That has been taken to mean that Christians should be punching bags, which is not what was intended.

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posted September 09, 2012 07:44 AM            

That would weaken his walk with Jesus and his witness, as well, as it is not tenable, do-able and would be a horrible life for that person and would not be something which other people, observing this, would want to aspire.
It would be a super turn off for people to want to be a Christian, quite frankly.

I think this misconception of a Christian being a weak punching bag IS a turn off and prevents people from finding Jesus, especially men.

The men in the body of Christ can be very wimpy. It is a result of misconceptions like these, imo.

This is the thing for someone like me. My life has one purpose.

I am here to bring Jesus to the world. I have my own small world, with the places I interact. My goal and my purpose is to be an example for Jesus.

That includes being willing and able to answer questions about the Bible to people who ask.

It does not include hitting people over the head with the Bible, as that is disrespectful for me, as well as for them. God does not call us to dishonor or disrespect.
I fail a great deal in my walk with God. I will fail more, the more you know me, as I am human, as we all are. My ego can get tweaked, as can everyone's.

I think Jesus writing on the ground was a version of this. Who could live up to the standards which they were imposing on the woman caught in the act of adultery? They all threw their stones down and walked away. People need to think about that, not judging each Christian with impossible standards( to which THEY cannot attain, nor can anyone else)

That is why it is very clear, in the Bible, for people to follow God, not any man.

A man will, always, let you down, even if they try to be the best person they can be.

They have a flesh, which has an ego. That ego will surface, at times. The person will learn lessons, hopefully, and his ego will be tamed, but never gone.

If I can say one thing, in all this, is to look to God, not any man to be perfect and uphold the teachings of Jesus, perfectly.

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