You Have Heard It Said

Was it November, 2015 when Paris erupted in violence because a handful of human beings decided god was on their side and therefore against the people of that great city? Was it April, 2016 when Brussels became a place of death and destruction because the same handful of human beings decided god was on their side? Was it September, 2001 when that same group of human beings decided god was against the United States of America?

A long time ago and yet today, Jesus said that if a violent man comes against you to strike you, do not resist. In fact, offer him a new target — your other cheek. (Other than Jesus, the only person I know who has done this well is Mahatma Ghandi. Martin Luther King is a close second.)

In the light of human beings who hate so much that they are willing to kill themselves to accomplish killing others, how do we reconcile Jesus’ call to not resist this level of evil?

I heard that on the morning after the attacks in Brussels, people were back at work, refusing to be afraid. And I thought of Jesus’ words, “Do not resist an evil man.” Is Jesus asking us to ignore evil and evil people? I’m not certain that’s possible. How do you ignore someone who is trying to kill you and your family? I don’t think Jesus asks us to ignore evil in others. (We are to resist evil in ourselves.) I think Jesus expects us not to resist evil people — not to take up arms against them, not to go to war against the countries they occupy, not to strike back. Does that make sense? Probably not to our limited minds. Would Hitler have gone on killing Jews if people had not resisted him? Would Stalin have decimated his own country if no one had resisted? We certainly believe these outcomes!

What sort of resistance should we offer against such evil?

I don’t know, but I do know that when I heard that the people of Brussels refused to be afraid, I was relieved. To sow fear is the main objective of a handful of human beings who believe god is on their side and against us — the real people of the world.

“Heard From the Beginning” ( 1 John 3:11 GNV ) by Carley Evans

When you’ve known some important truth from the very beginning of a movement, you’ve essentially no excuse for not understanding it. John writes that from the beginning, we’ve heard that we ought to love one another.

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

We therefore have no reason, no justification for backbiting, backstabbing, name-calling, undermining, belittling one another. We’ve no excuse for accusations against one another especially the excuse some call “tough love.” Tough love often looks like hatred. I’ve seen it mock, name-call, belittle, dismiss, accuse, and harm too many over the years and I deny its value in “building up the church.”

Paul calls us to build, not to destroy. We are to enhance one another’s walk with Christ, not demean those walks.

We’ve heard this from the beginning. Let’s act on what we know before others turn and devour us.

“Not Like Cain” ( 1 John 3: 12, ESV ) by Carley Evans

The second great commandment and the one Jesus gives us is “that we should love one another.” (1 John 3:11) “Whoever does not love abides in death” rather than in life. (1 John 3:14) And if we hate one another, then we are become as murderers, “and you know no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:15) Simply, the author is telling us that hatred leads to eternal death while love leads to eternal life.

The first murderer, Cain, murders his own brother in a fit of jealous rage. “And why did he murder [Abel]? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” (1 John 3:12) And this is the judgment: the Light has come into the world, and people love the darkness rather than the Light because their works are evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the Light and does not come to the Light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the Light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works are carried out in God.” (John 3:19-21)

The author of 1 John actually warns us that “we should not be like Cain.” (1 John 3:12) If we become like Cain, then we are “not of God” for the “one who does not love his brother” can not be “born of God” (1 John 3:10,9)

Yet, “whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything.” (1 John 3:20) “Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:18) Let us come to the Light so that our “works are carried out in God.” (John 3:21)

“Promote The Justice Of God” (James 1: 22, NEB) by Carley Evans

Do not be fast to get angry, writes James. Instead, remain quiet and listen. “For a man’s anger cannot promote the justice of God.” James advises us to remove from our lives “all that is sordid, and the malice that hurries to excess.”

Malice hurries to excess; hatred engages our emotion, making us blind and deaf to truth. Anger destroys calm. James advises us to keep control over our tongues so that we remain quiet and listen. As we listen to the other calmly, we may find our anger slipping.

Malice builds barriers between us and the other, so that we are incapable of listening to the other side of the story. Therefore, our anger, our malice “cannot promote the justice of God.” The scales are tipped in our favor when we cherish our anger.

Rather, says James, “be sure that you act on the message and do not merely listen; for that would be to mislead yourselves.”

“Quietly accept the message planted in your hearts, which can bring you salvation.” As we remain quiet and calm, we are capable of creating peace with the other and so “promote the justice of God.”

“Falsely Accused” (Matthew 10: 19 – 20, NEB) by Carley Evans

Jesus speaks of brother turning against brother in betrayal; of father standing in hatred against his own child; of children despising and sending their own parents to death. He speaks of Christians being arrested, taken into court, accused — for His sake — presumably of all sorts of false charges.

And Jesus encourages us, “Do not worry about what you are to say; when the time comes, the words you need will be given you; for it is not you who will be speaking; it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking in you.”

Wait for God’s timing. Do not fret over what you are to say when someone — perhaps even someone who professes to love you — betrays you. In His timing, God gives you His Word to speak to that someone. Rest assured; you are not on your own.