Turn the other cheek, or turn over some tables? - When do we do what?

[St. SteVen]

This begs some questions about how to best handle the abuse of others.

- When do we turn the other cheek? And...
- When do we turn over some tables?

Jesus did both.

Acts 4:18-20 NIV
Then they called them in again and commanded them
not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes:
to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about
what we have seen and heard.”

Romans 12:19-21 NIV
Do not take revenge, my dear friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.
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.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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[PGS11]

The point of turning the other cheek is that it ends with you or you can continue to even worse states.Plus when angry you pass that mood on to others its a chain reaction and who knows how far it goes out in the world.Its not about being passive and being a victim.Its about whats going on inside you and ridding yourself of that ugliness to retaliate.Do you know how many people are sitting in prison because they could not turn their cheek or victims their are.The chance to end things is always in your hands the choice is yours or you can carry it the rest of your life tormenting yourself effecting everything.

 

[St. SteVen]

The point of turning the other cheek is that it ends with you or you can continue to even worse states.Plus when angry you pass that mood on to others its a chain reaction and who knows how far it goes out in the world.Its not about being passive and being a victim.Its about whats going on inside you and ridding yourself of that ugliness to retaliate.Do you know how many people are sitting in prison because they could not turn their cheek or victims their are.The chance to end things is always in your hands the choice is yours or you can carry it the rest of your life tormenting yourself effecting everything.

Fantastic post, thanks!
Reminded me of this. (preventing escalation is in our hands)
It takes two to tango. - LOL

Proverbs 15:1 NIV
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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[Deborah_]

- When do we turn the other cheek? And...
- When do we turn over some tables?

I don't think that we're ever commanded to 'turn the other cheek' on behalf of other people.
When we are the victims of injustice, we are to be meek.
When we see others being victimised, we should stand up for them (although there may well be occasions when discretion is the better part of valour - action doesn't necessarily have to be immediate)

 

[St. SteVen]

The point of turning the other cheek is that it ends with you or you can continue to even worse states.Plus when angry you pass that mood on to others its a chain reaction and who knows how far it goes out in the world.Its not about being passive and being a victim.Its about whats going on inside you and ridding yourself of that ugliness to retaliate.Do you know how many people are sitting in prison because they could not turn their cheek or victims their are.The chance to end things is always in your hands the choice is yours or you can carry it the rest of your life tormenting yourself effecting everything.

Excellent reasoning for turning the other cheek.
When would it be appropriate to turn over some tables?

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[St. SteVen]

I don't think that we're ever commanded to 'turn the other cheek' on behalf of other people.
When we are the victims of injustice, we are to be meek.
When we see others being victimised, we should stand up for them (although there may well be occasions when discretion is the better part of valour - action doesn't necessarily have to be immediate)

That's a great point. Who is the victim in this situation?
If it is me, I should turn the other cheek.
If it is someone else, perhaps I should step in to be a peacemaker. (or defender)

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[TigersPaw]

When I worked in and Inpatient addiction facility as a supervisor.
We had a saying, " Do not let anyone take Real-estate in your head. ?
The people that wronged, and mock you. Do not care what you think.
If they did they would work to repair the damage.
Another saying and not to be rude. " People Suck ". People are self-righteous, arrogant, self entitled.
And I am not just talking about church leaders LOL.
OK seriously, keep people out of your head. That person that cut you off and now you relive what you wish
you said or did. Like slashing their tires, or taking a baseball bat to the windshield. Most never would do it.
But the hate, and embarrassment that people throw at you goes into a repeat cycle in your head.
Do NOT LET IT> GIVE IT TO GOD.

 

[St. SteVen]

When I worked in and Inpatient addiction facility as a supervisor.
We had a saying, " Do not let anyone take Real-estate in your head. ?
The people that wronged, and mock you. Do not care what you think.
If they did they would work to repair the damage.
Another saying and not to be rude. " People Suck ". People are self-righteous, arrogant, self entitled.
And I am not just talking about church leaders LOL.
OK seriously, keep people out of your head. That person that cut you off and now you relive what you wish
you said or did. Like slashing their tires, or taking a baseball bat to the windshield. Most never would do it.
But the hate, and embarrassment that people throw at you goes into a repeat cycle in your head.
Do NOT LET IT> GIVE IT TO GOD.

Great post, thanks.
Reminded me of this.

Romans 12:14 NIV
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

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[St. SteVen]

Great post, thanks.
Reminded me of this.

Romans 12:14 NIV
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

I have actually made some friends by affirming people that have been abusive to me.
A compliment goes a long way toward healing. Run toward them, rather than away.

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[APAK]

This begs some questions about how to best handle the abuse of others.

- When do we turn the other cheek? And...
- When do we turn over some tables?

Jesus did both.

Acts 4:18-20 NIV
Then they called them in again and commanded them
not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes:
to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about
what we have seen and heard.”

Romans 12:19-21 NIV
Do not take revenge, my dear friends,
but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.
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.”[b]
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

[

Well for the 1st question posed....

Context is king...once again

Jesus is instructing others, even his enemies, especially his followers to respond to personal insults or slaps without retaliating.

In Jesus’ day, a slap on the right cheek was a common way for a Roman soldier or a superior to humiliate a subject or inferior. Turning the other cheek would mean presenting the left cheek, which was a bold rejection of the insult and an opportunity for the aggressor to choose a different, less humiliating way to strike.

Jesus’ teaching is not about physical action but about a spiritual response or condition. It’s about choosing not to retaliate or defend one’s dignity through violence or aggression, but instead to trust in God’s justice and to love one’s enemies.

 

[St. SteVen]

In Jesus’ day, a slap on the right cheek was a common way for a Roman soldier or a superior to humiliate a subject or inferior. Turning the other cheek would mean presenting the left cheek, which was a bold rejection of the insult and an opportunity for the aggressor to choose a different, less humiliating way to strike.

That's a good historical insight, thanks!

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[PGS11]

This always reminds me of road rage and how far people are willing to go over a tiny slight.It gets down right dangerous with people dying sometimes innocent bystanders.There have been gun fights over being cut off with people dying.They even follow you home over the tiniest of things.You driving with tons of other people there is bound to be something and you need to let it go and just continue on.Beating up a person for a accident what ever the reason its just going to get you in trouble and there are cameras everywhere now it will be caught on camera or by a person.All you have to do is turn the other cheek or be prepared for the consequences of your actions because tomorrow will come and you may have to answer for it.

 

[Brakelite]

Where were those tables? What is God's temple today? What would be the tables worth turning over in the church? Should we start with the prosperity gospel?

 

[Wrangler]

This begs some questions about how to best handle the abuse of others.

- When do we turn the other cheek? And...
- When do we turn over some tables?

The answer is it depends on the circumstances and context. I've been thinking of starting similar thread, exploring the contrast between the meek lamb of God, that feminized Christianity incessantly portrays, compared to the bold, politically incorrect Lion of Judah.

A book I'm reading, Why Men Hate Going To Church, states that the Lion of Judah would not be welcomed at most churches, who not only turned over tables but whipped people. Violence solves problems and the 1st thing Jesus does when he returns will be to invoke violence at the battle of armageddon.

I also must object to the over use of the term abuse. Turn the other cheek refers to being in control when one insults you. That is, don't give your enemies the power over you. This sentiment has to be juxtaposed with the unforgivable sin. Jesus said to blaspheme him is forgivable. It was not for Jesus' glory that he over turned the tables. It was to defend the holy ground of his God's temple.

 

[quietthinker]

I've got plenty of cheek; did you want me to turn particular one?....and choose day is as good as any

 

[St. SteVen]

Should we start with the prosperity gospel?

I'm guessing a few fine folks beat you to it. - LOL

Can you think of other tables to turn over?

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[St. SteVen]

The answer is it depends on the circumstances and context. I've been thinking of starting similar thread, exploring the contrast between the meek lamb of God, that feminized Christianity incessantly portrays, compared to the bold, politically incorrect Lion of Judah.

I think that is a good idea for a topic.

I also must object to the over use of the term abuse. Turn the other cheek refers to being in control when one insults you. That is, don't give your enemies the power over you.

That's a good insight.
In many human interactions, it pays to be the "bigger" person. (more mature)

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[St. SteVen]

I've got plenty of cheek; did you want me to turn particular one?....and choose day is as good as any

Does a butt cheek count?

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[Ritajanice]

I just thank God that the Holy Spirit who permanently indwells my spirit, is working in my heart to make me more like Jesus, develop his character and bear his fruit.

I don’t need to follow any scripture to know, that God is in control, I’ve had moments of hurling abuse back at some, then my conscience lets me know what I did was wrong, therefore I ask the Spirit to take me over in situations of abuse..he helps me understand why I used to react to abuse etc,etc, only the Spirit can work in our heart and guide us in situations like I explained.

As for turning over tables..depends what you mean by that?

I have posted my opinion and thoughts on the subject in hand.

 

[St. SteVen]

As for turning over tables..depends what you mean by that?

It's a direct reference to this scripture below.
But you are probably asking what that means to us today?

Matthew 21:12 NIV
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

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