I've become very torn on this. I don't think you can reason with these people anymore. I don't think they can ever see the light. I don't think they will ever stop. Turning the other check has not worked. It has allowed them to grow and flourish.
I am heartbroken from what happened yesterday. The Trump assassination attempt was kinda expected in my view. This successful assassination is sickening and has affected me more. Charlie was one of us. He was educating the youth in the conservative way of thinking, and discussion faith with them. His absence leaves a huge hole. The precipice won't solve this. It won't change their minds. Only Jesus can, and I hope he is coming.
Many people might have confused Jesus’ situational prescriptions for universal ones, in this case taking the “turn the other cheek” advise to mean always yielding to aggressors. When money changers were desecrating the temple, Jesus didn’t give over to them another temple to desecrate. Instead He took immediate action to stop the bad behavior.
Maybe the “turn the other cheek” advice was for when Jesus could see that the aggressor wasn’t totally devoid of compassion. Turning the other cheek as an appeal for peace only works if the aggressor has mercy and humanity. A psychopath will just keep hitting you on both cheeks and anywhere else, and I don’t think that’s what Jesus wanted us to endure.
Turning the other cheek as an appeal for peace only works if the aggressor has mercy and humanity.
Only Jesus is capable of knowing other people's inner motives. It's not for us to assume and fix a permanent label on people. People are capable of change and repentance.
In Acts 14, once when Paul was about to be stoned, he fled town. Another time he was stoned and did not fight back. When God spoke about Saul's conversion he said, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Suffering persecution for Christ and the proper response to persecution is in a different category than Jesus' cleansing of the temple. Cleansing the temple is correcting the incorrect teaching and application of the law by the religious leaders. It isn't about the relationship between the God's people and those who are not God's people.
Again, confusing the situational for the universal. Not everyone is St Paul.
AI offers some context on the original advice:
Cultural Significance: In the first century, a slap on the cheek was not a minor event but a public dishonoring”
Public dishonor is more minor than physical injury. It’s easier to take the dishonor and not be afraid of more dishonor than it is to take a continued beating that can leave a person disabled and unable to spread the Gospel. For example, Charlie Kirk has no cheek to offer a shooter now.
Jesus isn't changing the minds of those who openly hate and mock Jesus.
If he could do that, maybe he could just start with Satan, and that would be that.
Obviously that isn't the plan. God/Jesus could remove all evil and all propensity of humans to commit evil; but then the concept of doing good would be utterly meaningless. Good only matters if you COULD have done bad, but CHOSE to do good. If you can't choose bad, then your 'good' works are those of an automaton.
It was meant that only Jesus could solve this. Meaning that his return is the only thing that I think is left. And I think when he does return, it will cause many to repent, whether it's to late for us and them. The standards for the final judgement are unknown, and I would be a fool to believe I am worthy to inherit eternal life. I realize my imperfect life and decisions are flawed even as I try and better myself everyday. Will it be a 1,000 year reign where there is an awakening and renewal of Gods plan? That is what I have faith in.
I've become very torn on this. I don't think you can reason with these people anymore. I don't think they can ever see the light. I don't think they will ever stop. Turning the other check has not worked. It has allowed them to grow and flourish.
I am heartbroken from what happened yesterday. The Trump assassination attempt was kinda expected in my view. This successful assassination is sickening and has affected me more. Charlie was one of us. He was educating the youth in the conservative way of thinking, and discussion faith with them. His absence leaves a huge hole. The precipice won't solve this. It won't change their minds. Only Jesus can, and I hope he is coming.
Many people might have confused Jesus’ situational prescriptions for universal ones, in this case taking the “turn the other cheek” advise to mean always yielding to aggressors. When money changers were desecrating the temple, Jesus didn’t give over to them another temple to desecrate. Instead He took immediate action to stop the bad behavior.
Maybe the “turn the other cheek” advice was for when Jesus could see that the aggressor wasn’t totally devoid of compassion. Turning the other cheek as an appeal for peace only works if the aggressor has mercy and humanity. A psychopath will just keep hitting you on both cheeks and anywhere else, and I don’t think that’s what Jesus wanted us to endure.
What in incredible insight shared here -- TY, Markus.
"Turning the other cheek as an appeal for peace only works if the aggressor has mercy and humanity."
+1
Only Jesus is capable of knowing other people's inner motives. It's not for us to assume and fix a permanent label on people. People are capable of change and repentance.
In Acts 14, once when Paul was about to be stoned, he fled town. Another time he was stoned and did not fight back. When God spoke about Saul's conversion he said, "I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Suffering persecution for Christ and the proper response to persecution is in a different category than Jesus' cleansing of the temple. Cleansing the temple is correcting the incorrect teaching and application of the law by the religious leaders. It isn't about the relationship between the God's people and those who are not God's people.
Again, confusing the situational for the universal. Not everyone is St Paul.
AI offers some context on the original advice:
Public dishonor is more minor than physical injury. It’s easier to take the dishonor and not be afraid of more dishonor than it is to take a continued beating that can leave a person disabled and unable to spread the Gospel. For example, Charlie Kirk has no cheek to offer a shooter now.
Jesus isn't changing the minds of those who openly hate and mock Jesus.
If he could do that, maybe he could just start with Satan, and that would be that.
Obviously that isn't the plan. God/Jesus could remove all evil and all propensity of humans to commit evil; but then the concept of doing good would be utterly meaningless. Good only matters if you COULD have done bad, but CHOSE to do good. If you can't choose bad, then your 'good' works are those of an automaton.
It was meant that only Jesus could solve this. Meaning that his return is the only thing that I think is left. And I think when he does return, it will cause many to repent, whether it's to late for us and them. The standards for the final judgement are unknown, and I would be a fool to believe I am worthy to inherit eternal life. I realize my imperfect life and decisions are flawed even as I try and better myself everyday. Will it be a 1,000 year reign where there is an awakening and renewal of Gods plan? That is what I have faith in.