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"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn
by msg 16y ago
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
Reading this thread, it occurs to me once again how countercultural the Sermon on the Mount is, and how hard it is to seriously live it.
I wouldn't recommend this as a plan of action for somebody else's kid. Or for others, in a pluralist political context. Or for nations. Because hey, this goes down to a very basic belief about how to live rightly and wrongly in the world, and how to respond to violence and evil.
- MoreMoschops 16y ago"Reading this thread, it occurs to me once again how countercultural the Sermon on the Mount is, and how hard it is to seriously live it." On the other hand, the reward (if you believe it) is eternal paradise of some kind. Infinite good in exchange for some finite pain. Yay religion.
- msg 16y agoYou speak like someone who doesn't understand Christianity from the inside. Knowing God is its own reward. The Christian life is not a video game. Heaven is not an Achievement. Suffering is not inconsequential.
- jmtulloss 16y agoI really appreciate this reply, but I do think that the sermon on the mount stands on its own, without religion being involved. There are situations in which being the better man means stepping aside.