Turn the other cheek?

I recently preached on Luke 6:29, but does “turning the other cheek” require a faithful Christ follower to suffer abuse or just take it? I advocated complete dependence on God in situations of unfairness in my sermon. However, there are deeper issues of life that we must take into account as well.

Yes, God has promised consistently throughout scripture that He will be our defense, that He will fight for us (Exodus 14.14, Joshua and the city of Jericho, Gideon’s army, and 2 Corinthians 4:7 are examples). However, while we see Paul getting stoned and beaten for his faith in Christ, we also see him being lowered in a basket through the an opening in the city wall to escape a murder plot in Acts 9:25, sneaking away by night in Thessalonica (Acts 17:10), and hightailing it out of Iconium (Acts 14:6).

It’s obvious that a Christian is not commanded to simply be someone’s whipping post. Any sane person would counsel someone in an abusive situation to get out and get safe as soon as possible. The problem comes when it’s not in your power to do so.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were helpless to resist the will of the king in the book of Daniel. They had to submit to his power and authority over their lives. In that particular instance, their faith led to flames, with the very presence of Another to affirm them in their stand and submission. (Daniel 3:16-18)

It was their profound refusal to bow to an idol that led to their supposed fate in the fire. Should they have meekly bowed to save their life? Should they have turned the other cheek in that moment to live for God another day?

The “turn the other cheek” passage in Luke 6 is not a command to simply suck it up and take it. It’s an instruction to willingly suffer loss when it is no direct harm to your person. In both cases that Jesus describes, the intent is to confound the person who demands something from you with patience, kindness and radical generosity.

It leads to Jesus’ amazing command for us to love our enemies. And pray for them. It’s also a command to stay the course. Be faithful and trust God even if it leads us into suffering. His ministry to us will be radically sufficient in our suffering. Our suffering for His sake actually destroys the power of evil rather than magnifying it.

The overarching principle in scripture is not as simple as “turn (the other cheek) or burn.” There are consistently great rewards and examples promised to and made of those who persist, stand firm and refuse to relent in their commitment to God in the face of persecution. However, we’re also given examples of escape. It’s not wise to stay in situations of persecution or abuse when you have the power and freedom to remove yourself from it.

If you can’t get out, stand firm. Be faithful. Be humble. Resist with an other-worldy confidence in God who is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” It should come as no surprise that a follower of Jesus experiences intentional persecution for our faith. In fact, it’s proof of it.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. (1 Peter 4.12)

Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. (1 John 3.13)

A few thoughts in conclusion:

• If you’re experiencing physical abuse or danger and it’s in your power to do so, get out and get safe.
• If you’re experiencing consistent emotional or verbal abuse, seek counsel and pray hard about whether you’re called to remain or leave the environment.
• Reflect deeply on the causes. If it’s due to your faith in Christ, the way you respond is critically important.
• Examine scriptural examples of persecution to compare them to your situation. God is able, and He will be just as present for you in similar situations. Scripture is given to us as a guide, encouragement and instruction in how to respond and even stand firm if God should call us to do so.
• Your suffering, however intense, may be exactly what God uses to increase your eternal reward, lead another to genuine faith and bring glory to Himself.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Your status is your standard
• Live like those who cannot die
• Engage in business
• A big but…
• Preachers liking liquor

“But others were tortured…”

Hebrews 11.35 is a rather abrupt transition from a sublime chapter in scripture that some call the “Faith Hall of Fame.” After detailing the feats of faith accomplished by God through the lives of Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson (who I normally don’t associate with faith), and others, one is confronted with these words:

“But others were tortured…” (NLT)

Nice.

Just in case you were beginning to be inspired to tackle hell with a water pistol, God’s Word reminds us that faith is independent of circumstances. Faith is external to danger or fortune. Faith is unaffected by success or failure. Faith is.

That’s why the Hebrews writer began this section with the famous, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (ESV) The Message Bible puts it like this:

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.

The New Living Translation may be my favorite:

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

The only problem with this translation is that I generally don’t hope for… torture. I am generally a stickler about good things happening to me. In my mind’s eye, I imagine everything working out in the end (after all, there’s Romans 8.28, right?). I see nasty situations tied up with a nice bow. I envision, “Aaaah. It-all-makes-sense-now” moments.

Most of the time, this mindset is completely shallow and inadequate to confront the realities of life. In fact, a self-promoting interpretation of Romans 8.28 perhaps leads people to confidence in ultimate fiction rather than an Understanding Father.

What is it that we hope for? That’s the real question.

• Healthy children.
• Job promotions.
• Central heat and air (especially during Arkansas summers!)
• Patience from everyone
• Punctuality from everyone
• To be treated by others as we treat them like we want to be treated
• Happy homes

These hopes bounce around in our minds as entitlements more often than not. For some reason, we have believed that if we believe right information about God that all of the above will be given to us. There’s even a whole strain of “Christianity” that seeks to convince us that God wants us to be healthy, wealthy and own 2.5 homes and 4 cars.

Tell that to the Hebrews 11.35-38 folks. They would be sorely disappointed. You read here about another group of faith-filled believers. In fact, they were so filled with faith that “they refused to accept release.” When offered a chance to renounce their trust in God – for them a firm foundation that made life worth living- they opted for death (which would actually bring faith to fruition and hope to reality).

Hebrews 11.39-40 comments, “And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.”

Essentially, their rotten experiences and horrible sufferings were examples for future followers of God. How would you like to know that what you’re experiencing is all for someone else? The way you choose to respond could enable someone else to stand firm.

Much of contemporary American Christianity struggles with Hebrews 11.35… “But others were tortured…” For me, it’s a surreal comfort to know that God’s Word does not shrink from depicting and predicting extreme hardship and agonizing cruelty. It addresses it head on. Yet it also offers a way through and out. It’s the way of faith.

Faith may bring you through the Red Sea… (v29) or it may get you sawn in two (v37). But our faith is not in “getting out of this mess.” Our faith is rooted in a Person. We trust in Him… not in some abstract deliverance.

In my family’s current faith journey, we are reminding ourselves once again that while life sometimes is not pleasant, our hope is not “in everything working out.” Rather, our hope and confidence is placed completely in Christ. He alone does not change. We (and you) can trust His character and rely upon His love. When things do not turn out as we would wish and hope, it may all be to remind us that the object of our hopes and dreams have been misplaced. Our current sufferings only sharpen our hearts to enjoy future fellowship.

Romans 8.18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

And if you’re one of those who is currently having Red Sea Day… pause and pray for Christ followers around the world – the persecuted church – and others who are having another kind of faith experience.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Your status is your standard
• Live like those who cannot die
• Engage in business
• A big but…
• Preachers liking liquor