Original: February 3, 2008
McMinnville, OR
11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 1 Corinthians 4:11-12
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 2 Timothy 3:12
Shanna and I have been blessed with three healthy and dynamic boys; James (almost 17), Darby (almost 15) and Colton (13). Since the boys were born we have either prayed with or over these boys before school, before bed, and before meals. Our prayers for them are different from the other based on their individual needs, but I have prayed the same Bedtime Prayer and the same Before School Prayer for years.
Basically, when I take the boys to school I pray something along these lines, “Lord Jesus help my boys to represent your name well today, to honor their family name, respect their teachers and protect the weak at their school. Help them to be the leaders you have called them to be and let them know that you are close to them at all times. Amen.”
Each of the boys is strong in their own right and as such has a responsibility to protect those weaker and less fortunate then them.
All that is to say that I hate bullies; maybe that is why I love America so much. Historically, Americans have been defenders of the weak and persecuted with nine out of every ten missionary dollars coming from the U.S., far and away more than any other nation. A couple years ago a man shocked me as he led a Bible study on the passage where Jesus told his followers to “turn the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39). His interpretation of this passage was that a Christian should not protect the weak, defend himself, and never, fight back when attacked.
Although his comment got me thinking I came to the conclusion that I categorically disagree.
So what are the godly man’s rules of physical engagement?
In the passages for today Paul captures the heart of Jesus when he says, “When we are cursed we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it (12)”. In this context it is clear that Paul was referring to enduring persecution for his faith in Jesus Christ. I do not think Paul, and I know Jesus did not (John 8), allow the weak to be persecuted without intervening on some level at least. If someone slaps me, punches me, persecutes me or worse because of my faith in Jesus I believe Jesus would have told me, “Jim, turn the other cheek and endure it”.
In fact, 2 Timothy 3:12 Paul promises followers of Jesus that, “The godly in Christ Jesus WILL BE persecuted.” The Christian man should not only welcome the day that he might receive the honor of enduring persecution for Jesus but turn the other cheek when he does.
I believe this with all of my heart.
But there is a time to fight and that time is either when the weak and defenseless are being hurt and persecuted, or we are forced to defend our physical well being in a way that is non-related to our faith in Jesus. God help the man who tries to break into my home and hurt my family. That man will definitely need God’s help if I get close to him! Assuredly he will be dealt with in a way that he might not expect from a pastor. A man must never confuse kindness for personal weakness. I firmly believe that it is the Christian man’s obligation to fight for the rights of the unborn, the fatherless (Job 29), victims of famine, and children being picked on at school.
One of my boys has a school friend who is physically challenged and I have told him on numerous occasions, “Son, do not ever let anyone tease or pick on your friend and if you ever get into a fight because someone is teasing him and you feel like you have to defend his honor you will not get in trouble”.
Solomon the wisest man to ever live once wrote these words: There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
I would add that there is a time to fight and a time to be persecuted.
