Why be kind to our offender?

[arunangelo]

When a person hurts another person, the offender cuts himself away from God. Since God is the only source of our peace, in cutting himself away from God the offender brings grave suffering on himself. Compared to the suffering the offender brings upon himself the suffering of the victim is small because the victim can always find peace in God, while the offender is totally devoid of peace. Therefore we must help both, the victim and the offender when there is hurt. Since God is the source of our peace we should not feel like a victim when others hurt us. Instead, we must be concerned about the suffering our offenders have brought upon themselves. We should therefore pray for our offender and bring them healing by acts of sacrificial love towards them (Matt.5:43-48).

 

[This Vale Of Tears]

When a person hurts another person, the offender cuts himself away from God. Since God is the only source of our peace, in cutting himself away from God the offender brings grave suffering on himself. Compared to the suffering the offender brings upon himself the suffering of the victim is small because the victim can always find peace in God, while the offender is totally devoid of peace. Therefore we must help both, the victim and the offender when there is hurt. Since God is the source of our peace we should not feel like a victim when others hurt us. Instead, we must be concerned about the suffering our offenders have brought upon themselves. We should therefore pray for our offender and bring them healing by acts of sacrificial love towards them (Matt.5:43-48).

There's no easy answer to this because kindness to the offender can be taken as a betrayal to the victim. I believe that scorn and rage have their place as well because it brings a correct disapproval of certain behaviors. So I think that when somebody hurts another and one person lashes out at the offender and another person invites the offender to repent, neither one is wrong and the push-pull effect may be the combination needed for an offender to correct his ways. I even believe that ridiculing fools can be the work of godliness and I can certain cite Elijah the prophet and St. Paul as examples of using sarcasm and lampooning to highlight the error of others.

So there really is no wrong way to address an offender except for indifference.

 

[Dan57]

When a person hurts another person, the offender cuts himself away from God. Since God is the only source of our peace, in cutting himself away from God the offender brings grave suffering on himself. Compared to the suffering the offender brings upon himself the suffering of the victim is small because the victim can always find peace in God, while the offender is totally devoid of peace. Therefore we must help both, the victim and the offender when there is hurt. Since God is the source of our peace we should not feel like a victim when others hurt us. Instead, we must be concerned about the suffering our offenders have brought upon themselves. We should therefore pray for our offender and bring them healing by acts of sacrificial love towards them (Matt.5:43-48).

So your saying that when someone is smashing your face in, we should not feel like a victim because our suffering is small? We should not feel like a victim at all? Our compassion should be with the atheistic offender? When a woman is being raped, we must concerned ourselves with the suffering of her rapist? I'm having a tough time swallowing that, and I don't think that when Jesus said "Pray for your enemies", that it will necessarily result in good tidings for those who hurt and abuse His children (Luke 17:1-2)

 

[aspen]

Well, Dan, would you rather trade places with those who harm you? I know I would not.

 

[This Vale Of Tears]

Well, Dan, would you rather trade places with those who harm you? I know I would not.

Is that the choice before us?

 

[aspen]

Nope, but it is a good perspective taking exercise that leads towards empathy.

 

[This Vale Of Tears]

Nope, but it is a good perspective taking exercise that leads towards empathy.

People who have empathy only for the victim of violence have empathy.

 

[Dan57]

Well, Dan, would you rather trade places with those who harm you? I know I would not.

No, why would I want to trade places with those who commit evil acts against others? And why would I have empathy towards evil? I simply prefer to be sensitive to the feelings of those who've experience violence. Those who instigate violence are in need of correction, so imo, giving them love and understanding simply puts a stamp of approval on their actions. Actually, correcting a trouble-maker can also be construed as an act of love, because you care enough to force a change for the good. The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37 inspires us to help the victim. Jesus didn't say to find the robbers and give comfort to the enemy.

 

[KingJ]

When a person hurts another person, the offender cuts himself away from God. Since God is the only source of our peace, in cutting himself away from God the offender brings grave suffering on himself. Compared to the suffering the offender brings upon himself the suffering of the victim is small because the victim can always find peace in God, while the offender is totally devoid of peace. Therefore we must help both, the victim and the offender when there is hurt. Since God is the source of our peace we should not feel like a victim when others hurt us. Instead, we must be concerned about the suffering our offenders have brought upon themselves. We should therefore pray for our offender and bring them healing by acts of sacrificial love towards them (Matt.5:43-48).

Amen. Jesus said we must feed our enemies. We defend ourselves and then when the enemy is down / in submission, we pray, feed and cloth them. Turning left cheek does not over-ride the need for self defence. We are to lovers as much as ourselves.

 

[aspen]

Amen. Jesus said we must feed our enemies. We defend ourselves and then when the enemy is down / in submission, we pray, feed and cloth them. Turning left cheek does not over-ride the need for self defence. We are to lovers as much as ourselves.

Yet Jesus went to the cross...

 

[This Vale Of Tears]

Yet Jesus went to the cross...

Is there a point? Jesus also destroyed Jerusalem 40 years later as he said he would in direct reciprocity for rejecting and crucifying the son of God. The pacifist, long haired, meek and mild hippie Jesus is more popular than the real Jesus. He also like Santa Clause doesn't exist.

 

[aspen]

The point is that Jesus did not fight back. The point is that He loved us so much that He laid down His life for us. If He is our example, we are not allowed to pick and chose who we love. Hippies were hedonists - lovers of self, not God.

 

[KingJ]

Yet Jesus went to the cross...

What you need to do is take the one side of ''Jesus sacrificed Himself for us + we must lay our lives down for each + turn the left cheek + feed enemies'' and then ADD the other "don't cast your pearl before swine + hate evil + Matt 10:23 + 1 Tim 5:8 grasping that providing is not just food but a safe environment. + 1 Cor 6:3 acknowleding we have the ability to judge all matters'' and then conclude as I did in post # 9 :).

If we don't fight back / do what is necessary...sure, always judging killing as a last resort...we are simply making ourselves martyrs. It sounds noble and ''more'' Christian, but its not. We must lay our lives down 100% for God and His will (first commandment). His will may or may not be to kill our enemy. Scripture shows this clearly. Loving others as ourself is the second commandment that requires discernment / judging in different scenarios.