Turn the other Cheek... Really?

SIXTY SIX years ago, as a seventeen year old, I walked off our high school rugby field, sweaty, worn and bruised. It was a tough end-of-the-season rugby “friendly” amongst school mates. As I ascended the spectator stands, a big, burly, greying man rushed down towards me and without a word slapped me with unrestrained ferocity across my left cheek. It's the first time I ever saw stars during daylight hours—and the last time.

Recovering from the shock and a spell of dizziness I looked up, directly into his squint right eye [which he judiciously tried to conceal by perpetually keeping it half closed] and, turning my head to expose my right cheek, I said: "Hit me on this cheek as well, Uncle C...."

At this juncture Christ’s statement about “turning the other cheek” must have seared the dark depths of his Calvinistic consciousness. [Our community were still sufficiently scripturally educated in simple Christian basics.] In shamed silence he mounted his bicycle and sped out of the school grounds with a crowd of kids standing awestruck, aghast and amazed at the fleeting confrontational spectacle.

[The reason for his violent assault was, as I realised only in my maturing years, a deep-seated jealousy rooted in the sport itself. I had gained Provincial Colours and his son had not. Though I must admit that in my view his son was the best loose-head front ranker in the province! But even way back then vain rugby coaches, prestigious school politics and wealthy parents polluted school rugby!]

On my way home, three blocks from school, Uncle C jumped out from a shadowy alley-way behind the local Portuguese fruiterer. He extended a conciliatory right hand with this plea: “Please don’t tell your Dad!”

I assured him it never even occurred to me to mention the incident. My Dad died over 50 years ago, never aware of the incident.

Ironically, this was an old family friend. He lived one short suburban block from us. He worked on the same gold mine as my Dad. They played first-league rugby together as team-mates in their younger days. I still remember regularly perusing the 1941 team photograph hanging proudly on the dimly lit wall of our sparsely furnished dining room. [My folks were decades ahead of the minimalistic trend!] Vivid images still come to mind seeing the two of them with arms folded across broad, proud chests, squared shoulders, and no-nonsense stares at the camera-man.

I apparently offended a fatherly pride by scrumming Uncle C's son into the dry grey Transvaal (now Gauteng) grass and, having achieved Provincial Colours during the year. The mixed emotions of chagrin and pride can unhinge even the stoutest of stable, spiritual souls.

To me the incident was insignificant, to be forgiven and forgotten by conciliatory attitudes. Today such an incident could result in egregious acrimony, unspeakable hatred, prohibitive law-suits, life-long litigation, a foul family feud, and even murder. But Uncle C demonstrated his regret even though his motives could have been suspect. We settled the matter that day--for ever. We knew something about Christ’s credos of repentance, sorrow, reconciliation, forgiveness, manliness, and “forgiving seventy times seven”.

In Matthew 18 we read of Peter, apparently offended at something or by someone due to an earlier dispute, approached Christ with this question: ”Master, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Christ replied: “I say not unto you, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven” [vv. 21-22].

This deeply entrenched teaching ended many an acrimonious dispute in our community. We pursued peace with one another as much as was possible. [See the instructions at Romans 12:18 and 1 Peter 3:11.]

Christ’s teaching is clear: We are all subject to falling short of God's righteous law--sinning--at some point in our lives [1 John 1:7-9]. But upon sincere repentance towards the Father, we will receive forgiveness. Since we are to become like our Father in heaven [Mat 5:48] we follow His example and teaching and forgive any who sin against us – IF that forgiveness is sincerely sought with the intent of never repeating the sin[s] again. Of course, it applies the other way round, too. If we offend or hurt someone it is our duty to seek restitutive relationships with a sincere and penitent heart.

Underlying this incident from my youth begs another question: are you to forgive someone who without cause assaults you or accidentally damages your property, and seeks neither reconciliation nor offer restitution?

This is a vast subject and may have a million ramifications. But this writing is not intended as a jurisprudential guide. We seek to establish a Christian principle even as Paul guided the Corinthian congregation at 1 Corinthians 6:5-8: “I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? No, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because you go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded.”

That’s a tall order for any sincere and true Christian. But, it’s an order nonetheless! However, in matters civil or criminal in a non-Christian dispute, the bible provides opportunity to seek legal recourse. Paul, when confronted by a murderous mob of priestly hypocrites exercised his civil right to be heard by the highest Court in the Roman Empire – he appealed to Caesar himself! [Acts 25:8-12.]

The Eternal legislated laws in ancient Israel reflective of His own sense of justice. These principles of fairness and justice are set out, inter alia, in Leviticus. Note:

Lev 24:17 “And he that kills any man [of any race or religion] shall surely be put to death. 18 And he that kills a beast shall make it good [make amends]; beast for beast. 19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; 20 Breach [a bruise; a break; or physical harm of any sort] for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish [physical, or moral, as in character defamation] in a man, so shall it be done to him again. 21 And he that kills a beast, he shall restore it: and he that kills a man [with intent; premeditated murder, not accidental killing], he shall be put to death. 22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country [all people of whatever race are to be judged impartially] for I am YEHOVAH your God.”

The ultimate crime should, by eternal decree, receive the ultimate penalty. The death penalty for murder is thus justice according to the Eternal. However, liberal lunacy, rooted in “Christian” antinomian grace dogma, and Darwinian dementia which falsely unleashed man from his creationist God-bond, is holding Western civilization morally hostage.

In society law and order should prevail as a matter of civility, good sense and moral uprightness. Without law and obedience no society will survive. Ultra-liberal America is seemingly intent on destroying the very basis of its own existence as encapsulated in their Constitution. The current government's self-destructive mind-set is reflected, inter alia, in the asinine demand for “defunding the police”, not prosecuting any thieves stealing under $900, releasing murderers, rapists, and paedophiles back on the streets after a sham hearing and setting meaningless bail amounts.

“Love thy neighbour” is not a God-mandate to release criminals unpunished. God requires the criminal to be punished in kind. There’s no saccharine sweet sanctimonious sentimentality in scripture. God will exact just punishment for crime.

Consider this absurd contradictory reasoning of the anti-death-penalty lobby. Don’t execute the callous murderers, but give legitimacy to the medical profession to murder babies as they exit the safety of their mother’s womb!

Another absurdity is the perverse and totally unfounded view that, “Jesus is merciful and forgiving, therefore we should forgive the criminal.” Societally it implies we must thus always “turn the other cheek”! This is a satanic deception spawned in Satan's twisted mind. Scripture knows no such teaching. The context of turning the other cheek is embedded in the idea that you have done some wrong. If that be the case be prepared, as the guilty, to take your punishment – and more!

When Christ was smacked across His face at His trial, Christ did not turn the other cheek! Read the accounts in the closing chapters of the gospels [Mat 26, Luke 22]. Paul knew his rights as far as God’s law was concerned and notice his reaction when smitten across the face: “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day [in other words I am not guilty of any crime]. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and command me to be smitten contrary to the law?” [Acts 23:1-3.] Having done no wrong Paul did not turn the other cheek! To be smitten across the face is predicated on the idea that he was guilty of some sin.

God declares that He will punish His people for their sin [Lev 26:18]. Therefore, should a nation not punish its evil doers? God punishes the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity [Is 13:11]. Should evil doers go unpunished? God will punish women for their whoredom [Hos 4:14]. Should governments legalize prostitution? God is the “revenger to execute wrath” upon all who “do evil” [Rom 13:4]. Should legislators and rulers subject decent living, law abiding citizens to the vile actions of demonically controlled and demented criminals?

Christ himself is the God of justice. All judgment has been given unto Christ [John 5:22]. The word Judgment in the Greek text is krisis and means damnation and condemnation. CHRIST, as the “holy and true” absolute ruler, will “judge and avenge” [retaliate and punish] those who harm His people [Rev 6:10]. Yes, Jesus believes in an “eye for an eye” justice!

Since scandalously truthless Christendom and our Western post-Christian society will not subject itself to the LAW of Christ—the Ten Commandments, as He categorically declared in Matthew 5:17-19—to what law, or whose law, will it submit itself? Islam’s? Or Communist China’s? Or Rome’s? Or the UN’s?

We have simple but difficult choices to make in the immediate future. Only being in the faith of Christ, persevering in the truth, and keeping His commandments can we be sure of protection, wise decision-making, and eternal life. [See Dan 9:4; John 14:15; 1 John 5:3; Rev 12:17; Prov 4:4; 7:2 Deut 30:16; Rev 14:12].

Keep the law. Keep the love. Keep the faith!