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Right up there with the commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" is the mandate to "turn the other cheek." This means overlooking someone's transgressions and wishing them well.
How realistic is this? About 3/4 of the time, this is a trespassing of boundaries. I think that sometimes boundaries need to be reset or reestablished. Sometimes, the person needs to be called on it. Many times, some (Christian) people are such jerks beyond salvage, that they won't get it, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Do you think today's (or any era's) Christian really "turns the other cheek?" What are the ramifications of doing this? What is the fine line between doing so and not doing so? Do you do it?
Please, NO QUOTERS NEED APPLY. I am looking for dialogue based on interpretations, and not mind-numbing quoting of Scriptures.
The early Christians turned the other cheek, they did not go to war, they resisted the corrupt government and religious leaders, but today's Christians have turned into what the ealy Christians did not want any part of.
We seem to have a bee hive mentality and attack anyone like Jesus that would dare not act like the rest of the sheep.
Here in America we have turned into a "Hypocrite Nation"
Right up there with the commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" is the mandate to "turn the other cheek." This means overlooking someone's transgressions and wishing them well.
How realistic is this? About 3/4 of the time, this is a trespassing of boundaries. I think that sometimes boundaries need to be reset or reestablished. Sometimes, the person needs to be called on it. Many times, some (Christian) people are such jerks beyond salvage, that they won't get it, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Do you think today's (or any era's) Christian really "turns the other cheek?" What are the ramifications of doing this? What is the fine line between doing so and not doing so? Do you do it?
Please, NO QUOTERS NEED APPLY. I am looking for dialogue based on interpretations, and not mind-numbing quoting of Scriptures.
Being slapped on the cheek was an idiom for being insulted, and turning the other cheek meant to ignore the insult and not return it...As later, this was clarified with 'do not trade insult for insult'...It was a Hebraic Idiom, it was not speaking of a physical slap, but a verbal slap...
Right up there with the commandment to "love one another as I have loved you" is the mandate to "turn the other cheek." This means overlooking someone's transgressions and wishing them well.
How realistic is this? About 3/4 of the time, this is a trespassing of boundaries. I think that sometimes boundaries need to be reset or reestablished. Sometimes, the person needs to be called on it. Many times, some (Christian) people are such jerks beyond salvage, that they won't get it, but it doesn't hurt to try.
Do you think today's (or any era's) Christian really "turns the other cheek?" What are the ramifications of doing this? What is the fine line between doing so and not doing so? Do you do it?
Please, NO QUOTERS NEED APPLY. I am looking for dialogue based on interpretations, and not mind-numbing quoting of Scriptures.
Good question. Jesus was not talking about pacifism, as in allowing someone to beat you up, or watching idle while someone rapes your wife. He was talking about prideful retaliation, and He goes on to talk about lawsuits, property rights etc, His message is to just let it go, and don't let your pride lead you to retaliate to insults, etc.
It's a tough teaching in a nation where people are brought up to defend our pride, and to avoid losing face by never allowing people to disrespect you. Our rules are prison yard rules, while Jesus taught to opposite, He said do NOT retaliate to insults, but rather just let it go. This is what turning the other cheek means. Self defence, and the defence of the nation are different matters, and the Bible teaches the authority carries a sword for a reason. The authority (cops, military etc) are God appointed 'agents of wrath' whose job is to bring punishment for the wrong-doers.
Being slapped on the cheek was an idiom for being insulted, and turning the other cheek meant to ignore the insult and not return it...As later, this was clarified with 'do not trade insult for insult'...It was a Hebraic Idiom, it was not speaking of a physical slap, but a verbal slap...
Turning the other cheek was a demand for equality.
So glad you posted this topic. The misinterpretation of that scripture is one of my biggest pet-peeves in today's church. The real meaning of the passage is exactly opposite of what's taught.
Historical background is important.
The audience was Jewish. The abuser was in authority and the persecuted was considered of lower class. Striking someone was used to assert authority and dominance. Jewish law commanded the one in authority (perception only) had to strike with the back of their right hand because the left hand was used for unclean purposes. This meant a backhand strike could only from the left to right and turning the other cheek prevented the strike. Jesus was teaching the persecuted how to stand up for themselves without breaking Jewish law. An open handed slap was similar to a punch and that was a show of equality, which the abuser would never assume.
FYI - Two other scriptures are misinterpreted in a similar fashion. The one about going the extra mile and the other one about turning over your cloak. )
Here is the beauty of all truth. You (the OP) knew the truth in your heart. You asked the question from your heart and you got the truth. That is a key point in all of Jesus's teachings. Interesting isn't it?
I agree with you that resistance to prideful retaliation is the intent of the lesson although that definition loses the heart of the message addressing the value of the person under persecution.
It gets interesting when you understand what was considered justifable retaliation.
Some interpretations of this scripture lean toward passive resistance which is the net effect of turning the other cheek; to avoid another slap. That said, Jesus’ teachings incited so much hostility in the Sanhedrin it is difficult to image a proponent of passive resistance threatened them to the point of execution. No, they were livid because Jesus leveled the field.
Jesus’ teachings in resistance were pure genius. He validated the persecuted while revealing the persecutor's transgressions, without condemning or judging of either side.
Being slapped on the cheek was an idiom for being insulted, and turning the other cheek meant to ignore the insult and not return it...As later, this was clarified with 'do not trade insult for insult'...It was a Hebraic Idiom, it was not speaking of a physical slap, but a verbal slap...
Can we have so historical documentation for this? I have seen many times answers like this are just passed on as if they are true but cant be proved. For instance almost all preachers now teach that "meekness" really means strength or at the least "bridled strength".
Yet the Strongs gives us mild or humble as its meaning.
Can we have so historical documentation for this? I have seen many times answers like this are just passed on as if they are true but cant be proved. For instance almost all preachers now teach that "meekness" really means strength or at the least "bridled strength".
Yet the Strongs gives us mild or humble as its meaning.
My grandmother used the term in the way i described her whole life...There are a lot of hebraic idioms through out the bible...
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