TURN THE OTHER CHEEK??
Back in the days of Christ, the Roman "masters" who were the undisputed rulers of man on earth, undisputed by all except Jesus and His followers of course. The accepted practice it seems was if you encountered a Roman soldier on your way and there was some mild altercation between you and he, he would strike you upon the cheek, often wearing a glove. The "proper" response was for you, the "peasant" to immediately kneel, bow your head, exposing the back of your neck. This of course would signal submission. if the anger was not quenched by this display of subservience, you were to prostate yourself, putting your forehead against the ground, and the Roman soldier would place his boot on your neck. (under the heel of Rome).
But, along came Jesus the Christ, who said don't kneel to Rome, don't bow down before earthly authority. Bow only to the Father in Heaven. IF A MAN STRIKES YOU UPON YOUR CHEEK, TURN THE OTHER CHEEK. An act of absolute defiance and resistance to the tyranny of Rome.
1 comment:
David, I totally dig your passion, although I disagree with this post. I've heard the explanation you cited before and there's a couple of problems with it. First, Jesus didn't demonstrate that attitude with his own life. This is important, else someone could say that Jesus didn't practice what he preached. Second, Paul the Apostle didn't live this way and the closest he came to it, he apologized for (Acts 23:1-5). And third, the earliest Christians - the ones who would have heard Jesus or the Apostles teach with their own ears - didn't demonstrate what this proposed theory teaches. The gladly allowed their lives to be taken, property seized, and torture, all for the sake of the gospel. So, I encourage you to rethink your stance. In the words of St. Francis, "Preach the gospel to all the world - and when necessary, use words." Love to you!
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