There are those who by not understanding think non-violence is weakness. They could not be more wrong. It is natural to hit back. It is instinctive. To turn the other cheek takes enormous strength. First, one must combat nature. Second, one must be brave enough to be hit again. Third, one must have the mental discipline to understand the immediate result could be very damaging but the long term result will be victory. The great civil rights struggle in this country would have written a far different story had Dr. King taken to the streets with arms.
The Sermon on the Mount challenges us with the highest of ideals. It is a recipe for constructing God’s ideal human. Should we rise to such standards it might possibly stir God to do the same for us that He did for Enoch. Genesis 5:24 says, “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Apparently one day God must have said, “This man Enoch has become so much like us, we cannot allow him to die. Let’s bring him home.” In I Thessalonians Paul speaks of people being taken to heaven without seeing death. He says, “We which are alive and remain will be caught up in the clouds to be with the Lord.”
Something that has puzzled me through the years is the large number of “Christians” who are so militant. What would happen if we really did take Jesus at His word and feed our enemies and give them what they need? Who would ultimately win? I cannot believe that Jesus is wrong and yet I have people tell me I am naïve. We are called to an unnatural standard.
Written by Roger Bothwell on May 5, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org