Emilee commented on the last post about how difficult turning the other cheek would be. Joseph Smith, a modern prophet (I will write more of him later), brought us this translation clarifying the meaning of that scripture:
"And unto him who smiteth thee on the cheek, offer also the other; or, in other words, it is better to offer the other, than to revile again. And him who taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. For it is better that thou suffer thine enemy to take these things, than to contend with him. Verily I say unto you, Your heavenly Father who seeth in secret, shall bring that wicked one into judgment. "
JST LUKE 6: 29-30
Heavenly Father doesn't want us to look for trouble, or to add to it once it finds us. He does want us to love each other and go clear out of our way to avoid contention. That may mean suffering in silence. My feeling is that we would come closer to living this higher law if we did less back biting about injustices that have been done to us. We need to worry less about getting immediate justice and care more about the offenders. This also takes a certain kind of courage.
Although proponents of Civil Disobedience do not strike back, they do look for contention as a way of helping everyone see the injustice. Part of this plan may embrace turning the other cheek, but the first part has nothing to do with the spirit of this scripture. The sad truth is, most Civil Disobedience turns eventually into violence. It did in India and it did in the 1960s South.
Remember the quote from the last post: "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." (Preach My Gospel, 2004, USA p.52)
(The views written in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
"And unto him who smiteth thee on the cheek, offer also the other; or, in other words, it is better to offer the other, than to revile again. And him who taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. For it is better that thou suffer thine enemy to take these things, than to contend with him. Verily I say unto you, Your heavenly Father who seeth in secret, shall bring that wicked one into judgment. "
JST LUKE 6: 29-30
Heavenly Father doesn't want us to look for trouble, or to add to it once it finds us. He does want us to love each other and go clear out of our way to avoid contention. That may mean suffering in silence. My feeling is that we would come closer to living this higher law if we did less back biting about injustices that have been done to us. We need to worry less about getting immediate justice and care more about the offenders. This also takes a certain kind of courage.
Although proponents of Civil Disobedience do not strike back, they do look for contention as a way of helping everyone see the injustice. Part of this plan may embrace turning the other cheek, but the first part has nothing to do with the spirit of this scripture. The sad truth is, most Civil Disobedience turns eventually into violence. It did in India and it did in the 1960s South.
Remember the quote from the last post: "All that is unfair about life can be made right through the Atonement of Jesus Christ." (Preach My Gospel, 2004, USA p.52)
(The views written in this post are the views of the author and do not necessarily represent The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
2 comments:
I loved this quote by Robert D. Hales, "When we do not retaliate—when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger—we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage." (Nov. 2008 LDS Liahona Magazine)
Excellent!!! Have you ever seen someone do this?
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