What should a Christian do if faced with injustice? What if threatened with a knife to give away everything we have? Should we fight back or give what he wants? One of the teachings of Jesus is to not resist an evil person. In this post, we will explore what Jesus taught about not resisting an evil person or not fight against injustices against us.
Don’t resist an evil person
War Room, a Christian movie about prayer – thief scene. Source: YouTube 3
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have [your] cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matt 5:38-42
There are many strange teachings among Christians around the world regarding these hard teachings of Jesus.
While there is no gun culture here in Australia, in the US, it is a different story – “In God guns we trust”.
In “War Room” (a Christian movie about prayer), when a thief threatened the women with a knife, the old lady uses Jesus name to prevent the harm.
The above is just a few to show how several Christians think of what they must do when threatened. Jesus name is not a magic word or an excuse to disobey what Jesus taught. He never promised to save us if we use His name when refusing to do what He says. Hence, we must never resist an evil person.
God is our avenger
.. shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Luke 18:7-8a
If we don’t resist an evil person, will there be justice for us? Jesus shows us that His elect will cry out to God to avenge them and teaches us that He is our avenger.
After watching Harriet Tubman story from RedeemTV (watch for free) from the Christian History Institute, I had some interest in knowing about this woman and her deeds. After reading a bit about her in Wikipedia, two things shocked me.
In 1849, Tubman became ill again, which diminished her value as a slave. Edward Brodess tried to sell her, but could not find a buyer. Angry at him for trying to sell her and for continuing to enslave her relatives, Tubman began to pray for her owner, asking God to make him change his ways. She said later: “I prayed all night long for my master till the first of March; and all the time he was bringing people to look at me, and trying to sell me.” When it appeared as though a sale was being concluded, “I changed my prayer”, she said. “First of March I began to pray, ‘Oh Lord, if you ain’t never going to change that man’s heart, kill him, Lord, and take him out of the way.'”A week later, Brodess died, and Tubman expressed regret for her earlier sentiments.2
Wikipedia
Jesus taught us to cry out to God who will avenge us.
In April 1858, Tubman was introduced to the abolitionist John Brown, an insurgent who advocated the use of violence to destroy slavery in the United States. Although she never advocated violence against whites, she agreed with his course of direct action and supported his goals. Like Tubman, he spoke of being called by God, and trusted the divine to protect him from the wrath of slaveholders. … The raid [on Harpers Ferry, Virginia] failed; Brown was convicted of treason and hanged in December.2
Wikipedia
Jesus never taught us to take arms or guns to fight injustice. As in Matt 26:52, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. We are to pray to God who will avenge us.
Conclusion
We must not resist an evil person or fight against injustice. We must always cry out to God who will avenge us.
Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
Prov 20:22
Vengeance belongs to God (Ps 94:1). We must never say we will recompense evil but rather, we must wait for the LORD who will save us.
1 Christian History Institute. (2020) The Harriet Tubman Story – Season 1 – RedeemTV. Retrieved June 28, 2020, from https://watch.redeemtv.com/torchlighters/season:1/videos/torchlighters-episode-17-harriet-tubman
2 Harriet Tubman – Wikipedia. (2020) Retrieved June 28, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman
3 Iamtenaciouschannel. (2020) “War ROOM“ MOST amazing scene-HD – YouTube. Retrieved June 28, 2020, from https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=TNLjHSLTCXc
