Posted on 07/23/2015 5:45:42 AM PDT by Gamecock
Has anyone ever said something unkind to you or about you? I think we all have had that experience. Becoming victims of slander or malicious gossip can be difficult to bear. However, God calls us to exhibit a very specific kind of response in such circumstances.
Years ago, I received a letter from a friend who is a pastor at a church in California. In it, the pastor included a copy of an article that had appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Although the article included a photo of him standing in his church and holding his Bible, it was basically a vicious personal attack against him.
When I saw that picture and read that article, I felt a great deal of empathy for my friend because I had recently had a similar experience. A person I believed was my friend made some very unkind statements about me publicly, and word had gotten back to me. My feelings basically vacillated between despondency and anger, even though I knew I needed to respond with joy (Matt. 5:11–12).
I believe the greatest book ever written about the virtue of love in the Christian life is Jonathan Edwards’ classic Charity and Its Fruits. In this book, Edwards included a chapter on how we are to respond to false charges. There, he makes the biblical point that such attacks should not surprise us; rather, we should expect them:
Men that have their spirits heated and enraged and rising in bitter resentment when they are injured act as if they thought some strange thing had happened to them. Whereas they are very foolish in so thinking for it is no strange thing at all but only what was to be expected in a world like this. They therefore do not act wisely that allow their spirits to be ruffled by the injuries they suffer.
Edwards’ point is that if the Christian expects to be slandered and keeps his eyes focused on God when it happens, he will not be depressed over it.
Edwards reinforces the concept that other human beings can harm only my worldly pleasure. A person can injure my body, steal my money, or even destroy my reputation. However, all of these things have to do only with the cares and pleasures of this world. But we have an inheritance that is laid up in heaven, a treasure no one can steal or defile (1 Peter 1:4). It is protected by the Lord Himself.
We might be tempted to think that Edwards was a spiritual giant who could handle personal attacks with ease, while we are “ordinary” believers. How, then, can we not be distressed when we are hurt by people we thought were our friends? Yet while it is true that it is part of our human nature to respond to personal attacks with sadness, anger, or bitterness, these feelings are part of our fallen humanity. They are not fruits of the Holy Spirit. This means that Edwards, as great a saint as he was, was not calling “ordinary” Christians to do anything extraordinary. We are all called to bear our injuries with joy, patience, love, and gentleness.
This kind of response is required of all of us because the Christian life is about the imitation of Christ (1 Cor. 11:1). We are being molded into His image, so we are to strive to live as He lived. Our Lord was slandered and falsely accused of all kinds of offenses, but He opened not His mouth in protest (Isa. 53:7). Like a lamb, He accepted these vitriolic attacks, and, in the very moment of His passion, He prayed for the forgiveness of those who were attacking Him (Luke 23:34). This is how we are called to react to our enemies (1 Peter 4:13). Therefore, every false accusation, every slander, every ill word spoken about me is an opportunity for me to grow in my sanctification.
Edwards helped me see that I had allowed my soul to become distressed, and that was sin. Instead of seeing the attack on me as an occasion to imitate Christ and to grow in my sanctification, I had resisted God’s Spirit, who had brought this painful event into my life for my edification, that I might remember where my treasure is.
The key to responding to attacks and insults as Christ would is to nurture love for God. Edwards writes:
As love to God prevails, it tends to set persons above human injuries, in this sense, that the more they love God the more they will place all their happiness in him. They will look to God as their all and seek their happiness in portion in his favor, and thus not in the allotments of his providence alone. The more they love God, the less they set their hearts on their worldly interests, which are all that their enemies can touch.
We need to keep Edwards’ insight in mind as we deal with the inevitable attacks and insults that come our way in this life.
With great vengeance and furious anger.
Pray for your enemies, it will drive them crazy. Seriously you must pray for them and keep a good attitude toward your enemies so you will not be judged as guilty as they are.
A knuckle sandwich. To start....
The most disarming thing you can do is to respond the opposite of what is expected for the situation.
In a meeting I was chairing a much higher level Israeli manager made a vicious and personal comment about me. The room froze. I smiled my most becoming smile and said, “Thank you. I appreciate your opinion. But we have a serious problem to resolve and I’m hoping you can help us by adding your views on the data.” All heads swung back to him like a tennis match and he stammered, “Uh, I think it might be related to the labor loading...” (Which was his problem and he was right. The meeting came up with a solution which he didn’t want to implement but did.)
He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke 22:36
Response? Attack!
Don't forget the spittle, nothing says "you are nothing to me" like a little spittle from the corner of the mouth.
That's the hard part; letting the Holy Spirit guide one as to when to suffer in silence or to respond with righteous anger. Being sinful, we tend to let our human side run things when we shouldn't. Jesus himself was not one to shy away from the judicious use of violence (running the money changers out of the temple). All the Old Testament instances of war and violence are set in what could be described as a closed loop. Meaning; God made the decision, not man. This is what separates Christianity from islam. If you read the koran (at least the way I took it), the over arching theme is violence against the unbeliever (dictated by mohammed), with the individual jihadi given the choice of not whether to, but rather when and where to kill the infidel. It's a case of God centric vs man centric plain and simple.
“How dare you pray for me”
I did not tell them. Since I can not change their ways I protect myself with prayer. It is only between God and me.
With great vengeance and furious anger.
And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance down upon thee! BLAM BLAM BLAM!
Attack = defend
Insult = ignore
This is one of the most difficult passages in Scripture:
Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
It’s difficult because we’re prideful. Our feelings get hurt and we want to hurt right back. But God said HE is the one who will take vengeance on those who persecute us:
2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
2Th 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2Th 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
2Th 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
2Th 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2Th 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2Th 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2Th 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
And it’s a terrible vengeance He’ll work on them, eternally and mercilessly torturing them. Whatever we in our pride try to do to them is but a drop in the bucket compared to what God will do to them.
Interestingly, those under the very altar of heaven have this attitude:
Rev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
No forgiveness there at all. Just a desire that God take vengeance on those who had killed them. And God doesn’t rebuke them in any way, but rather rewards them.
By speaking Truth with love. But we cannot cease speaking Truth.
Christ said to turn the other cheek. He didn’t say to do it twice.
That’s not what the Lord teaches in the Bible.
King James Bible
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Love Your Enemies
…43”You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44”But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.…
Cross References
1 Samuel 24:17
“You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly.
Proverbs 19:11
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Luke 6:27
“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Luke 6:28
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 23:34
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Acts 7:60
Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Romans 12:20
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Treasury of Scripture
But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you;
Exodus 23:4,5 If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall …
2 Kings 6:22 And he answered, You shall not smite them: would you smite those …
2 Chronicles 28:9-15 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he …
Psalm 7:4 If I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me; (yes, I …
Psalm 35:13,14 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I …
Proverbs 25:21,22 If your enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, …
Luke 6:27,28,34,35 But I say to you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which …
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they …
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this …
Romans 12:14,20,21 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not…
1 Corinthians 4:12,13 And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being …
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs …
1 Peter 2:23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he …
1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise …
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Reading from the NIV version, in Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus tells us:
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
His words are revolutionary and contrary to human nature, yet His words witness to Proverbs 25:21-22 which reads:
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat: if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
It is interesting to note that in both Deuteronomy 19:15 (One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.) and Deuteronomy 17:6 (On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.), God establishes that two or three witnesses are required to establish the validity of something. In Jesus’ Ministry on Earth, His words confirm the Old Testament, thereby establishing its validity.
In our daily, personal living, if we sense that the Holy Spirit is leading us, we need to verify it back to the Bible or, as Paul said, test the spirit. If what you believe the leading is from the Holy Spirit, if it lines up with the Word, you have the two witnesses required to validate that leading.
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