April 28 - Jesus and Non-Retaliation: Liberty - Evangelical Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“‘Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two’” (Matthew 5:41).

The concept of liberty is much cherished in the United States and other democratic nations. The Declaration of Independence famously speaks of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Patrick Henry of Virginia used the bold oratory, “Give me liberty or give me death!” These sentiments were derived from biblical principles, although sometimes altered from those ancient origins.

God’s intention from the beginning was for mankind created in His image to live in perfect liberty, both spiritually and physically. But the Fall ruined this ideal and introduced such corrupt concepts as slavery and subjugation to totalitarian governments. Democratic governments have tried, although imperfectly, to protect the liberty of their citizens—sometimes even extending such freedoms to foreign visitors and immigrants. However, civil liberties should not supersede our duties to righteousness or our obligations to display a faithful witness.

Jesus here makes the analogy between surrendered liberties and the Roman law that could force civilians to carry a soldier’s pack for a mile. Except for facing them in battle, Roman troops were not as despised by their opponents as when those people were obligated to carry the troops’ packs or other equipment.

Yet our Lord teaches that we should be willing to go the extra mile for someone else—even at the expense of our cherished liberty. In so doing, we are worthy ambassadors for Christ, realizing that in Him we have an eternal liberty that can never be taken.

Ask Yourself

Who in your life regularly asks you to go the second mile for them? What is your usual response to their demand for your time and energy? How do you strike the balance between being sacrificial and maintaining boundaries that help you protect other godly priorities?

From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.

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TOPICS: Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: gty

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word ping

[ViLaLuz]

However, civil liberties should not supersede our duties to righteousness or our obligations to display a faithful witness.
................................

This is where nations, including the USA, go off the trails.

[caddie]

Here is the balance:

If we cave to everything the Communist pagans want us to do, then eventually they kill or imprison all believers and intimidate the rest into silence. Then there is no Church.

A la China.

So at some point you have to fight back and go OT (Old Testament) on these heathens.

Sayeth the Lord: "You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its strength, how can it be made salt again?"

Answer: Boil off the water, get rid of all non-salt with it, or something else pretty drastic.

At some point we simply can't cave in to all the Commies who have infiltrated almost all countries, institutions, and certainly our Church, in spite of all the glommy, conciliatory and doormatty things they say.

At some point the very existence of The Church Militant is at risk.

That point is now, if you think about it.

[metmom]

If we cave to everything the Communist pagans want us to do, then eventually they kill or imprison all believers and intimidate the rest into silence. Then there is no Church. A la China.

Or even worse, North Korea.