Self-Defense?
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you." -Matthew 5:38-42
I'm going through the 'Sermon on the Mount' to look at the extremely counter-cultural teachings of Jesus. The easy thing to do would be to read all of these instructions and just shrug and say that I've read them all a thousand times before. But I can't do that. I get caught. These are commands, not lazy little platitudes. I read through them and I have to admit that I find myself lacking, greatly lacking.
This passage speaks on a topic that as an American I am all too well acquainted with: self-defense. Where do I get off believing I need to constantly maintain my rights (which once I think about...I don't really have in the first place), insist that I am correct in my opinions and statements, and seize every opportunity to show myself as better than others? As a culture we have been reared to live and breathe self-defense for fear of being kicked while we are down. What's so bad about being kicked anyway? Jesus took so many kicks it's mind-blowing. Yes, Jesus stood up for things-God, God's Word, Love, other people...but never just for Himself. And afterall, if there was one person on earth who had the right to stand up for Himself, wouldn't it have been Jesus? But He didn't. And He's my teacher, my savior, and my leader. "I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." -John 13:16 I need to accept that self-defense is not a part of the life of a follower of Christ. That really, really hurts. I mean, I've always had that natural and cultural tendency to defend myself, my thoughts, my opinions, but I've recently come to the horrifying conclusion that such self-defense has been magnified since I've started college. I think: "Can't let my guard down. Must always show not only that I am right, but also how I am right. If I don't stand up for me, who will?" Man, I have been so mistaken in my thinking. Though it still stings, I am thankful that He revealed this to me so He can start rebuilding everything I thought I knew.
Right when you think you know yourself as you truly are God has a tendency to take your blindfold off. That's difficult to grasp, but it is probably the best thing He can do for you.
Rock on!
I'm going through the 'Sermon on the Mount' to look at the extremely counter-cultural teachings of Jesus. The easy thing to do would be to read all of these instructions and just shrug and say that I've read them all a thousand times before. But I can't do that. I get caught. These are commands, not lazy little platitudes. I read through them and I have to admit that I find myself lacking, greatly lacking.
This passage speaks on a topic that as an American I am all too well acquainted with: self-defense. Where do I get off believing I need to constantly maintain my rights (which once I think about...I don't really have in the first place), insist that I am correct in my opinions and statements, and seize every opportunity to show myself as better than others? As a culture we have been reared to live and breathe self-defense for fear of being kicked while we are down. What's so bad about being kicked anyway? Jesus took so many kicks it's mind-blowing. Yes, Jesus stood up for things-God, God's Word, Love, other people...but never just for Himself. And afterall, if there was one person on earth who had the right to stand up for Himself, wouldn't it have been Jesus? But He didn't. And He's my teacher, my savior, and my leader. "I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him." -John 13:16 I need to accept that self-defense is not a part of the life of a follower of Christ. That really, really hurts. I mean, I've always had that natural and cultural tendency to defend myself, my thoughts, my opinions, but I've recently come to the horrifying conclusion that such self-defense has been magnified since I've started college. I think: "Can't let my guard down. Must always show not only that I am right, but also how I am right. If I don't stand up for me, who will?" Man, I have been so mistaken in my thinking. Though it still stings, I am thankful that He revealed this to me so He can start rebuilding everything I thought I knew.
Right when you think you know yourself as you truly are God has a tendency to take your blindfold off. That's difficult to grasp, but it is probably the best thing He can do for you.
Rock on!