Ouch! My Eye!
Here's something that the Sojomail Verse and Voice on 11.30.2006 brought me - some OT evidence against blindly following the eye-for-an-eye mentality. Not just OT evidence, but Pentateuch evidence! Of course, Jesus explicitly strikes that doctrine down, but some reason so many Christians and "Christians" still think that way, and I find that rather disturbing. Anyway, without further ado:
When you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back. When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.
- Exodus 23:4-5
Yes, yes... dangerous liberal thinking, I know. Try to bear with me. It does seem like God wants us to be civil to our enemies as we would be to our friends. But hey, maybe it's just because the objects in question are animals...
Anyway, just found that interesting and figured I'd share. Any thoughts?
Jack