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Be merciful, Kind to the ungrateful, Luke 6:27, New York Subway killings, The place of violence in our times, Turn the other cheek, Violence stops with us
Photo: CNN.Com
In the morning rush hour of April 12 earlier this year Frank James, 62, entered the Brooklyn subway system, killed 10 people with gunshot wounds, and left at least a dozen others injured.
James who went by “prophetoftruth88” on his YouTube channel (which has now been disabled and all videos removed) would regularly go on lengthy rants. One of them has an essence of truth:
This nation was born in violence, it’s kept alive by violence or the threat thereof and it’s going to die a violent death. There’s nothing going to stop that.
In this month to consider the place of violence in our times, we limp to the end of the year with the wounds of violence here and there, near and far, between nations and with individuals.
Though James hopeless prophecy suggests “there’s nothing going to stop” this violence, we can make choices where violence stops with us. This may mean absorbing the violence rather than reflecting and amplifying it. But who can hear this and not make excuses?
Thus it must be odd to hear Jesus speak to a people enduring the occupying force of the Roman Empire:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
This, and This Only
By this only will violence be stopped. Taking that slap to the cheek (not metaphorical slaps only), not holding back your shirt, but being kind to the ungrateful, loving your enemy, and being merciful just because – that is to say – just because our Abba Father is merciful.
Costs a lot, doesn’t it?
Think how much more violence costs.
More Enigma Than Dogma 
Rusty, we women know well the trauma of domestic abuse where forgiving and loving the abuser only leads to more abuse and even death. Then there is the violent act of war such as that rained down on the people of Ukraine. How does a nation defend itself from such violence? History has shown that might is right and love is nailed to a cross.
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Thanks for your comments Rosaliene. I dare not suggest tritely to merely forgive and keep on taking a beating as if to justify the abuser (my short post does not offer more nuance). But as I repeat, violence begets violence, and I have come to the conclusion (with which not to burden anyone else to practice) that if I want violence to stop, I must be ready to practice non-violent, non-cooperation (as MLK Jr. demonstrated), or get out of the way (as the Mennonites and others have demonstrated), or be in the way to absorb the last slap. What I am suggesting is that violence and retaliation simply will not solve the problem of violence. No matter what history has shown, history is not finished, and I don’t hope that “might is right” (for it is not; and I don’t think you actually believe it to be)- but I do agree “love gets nailed to a cross”. I am still learning to pick up mine and carry it all the way… Thanks again for your thoughtful comments.
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To add to this discussion, I personally struggle with this. I feel people should have personal boundaries and not be pressured to be a doormat, especially in an egregious. I believe people should be held accountable for their actions but not in a violent way.
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I also personally struggle with this. And I do not intend to suggest that people do not have personal boundaries, but if it is true (and this should be debated) that violence begets violence… where/how does it end? The popular cultural narrative belongs to the NRA: “it takes a good guy with a gun to stop a bad guy with a gun.” Just overlay that ethic on other conflicts, and I think it descends rapidly into incoherence. Of course this short post suffers from not speaking to issues of accountability and justice; the problem with our personal point of view on justice is when we take “justice” into our own hands. We should conclude that this then is not justice. Appreciate your comment; and so much to consider about the place of violence in our times.
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Yes, indeed. There’s no easy solution to this
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Hi Rosaliene, I have been thinking all week about your comment re: women knowing well the trauma of domestic abuse where forgiving and loving the abuser is insufficient to stop the abuse. I wonder if there is a disconnect between “loving” one’s partner (in an abusive relationship), and loving oneself so as to establish safe physical and psychological boundaries. Indeed the whole subject of “forgiveness” is fraught with potential misapplication. I think (and I know from experience) we can do both: eventually, if possible, forgive a person – AND – create space, get away, etc. The two are not mutually exclusive. When it comes to forgiveness admittedly, it is simply not reasonable to obligate the harmed person to forgive. It is a costly act of amazing grace whose source is greater than our own. As you’ve seen the post following this one – I address the persistent abuse of women/femicide. Here’s more of my thoughts on forgiveness – I am sure you have given some thought to this from your experience. https://moreenigma.com/2015/01/16/getting-historical/ Thanks again for your engaging remarks.
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I found that on forgiving my ex-husband and maintaining an amicable relationship, following our separation and divorce, for the sake of our sons, I opened myself to further verbal abuse. I eventually had to sever all contact with him and his family in order to end the abuse.
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I am very sorry to hear, and sorry to hear how your desire for your sons meant further abuse. I am glad that you were able to sever all contact and take care of your self. There is a tragedy, isn’t there, in how the most vulnerable and intimate relationship can be most prone to unspeakable pain. As your novel revealed, betrayal is most keen in those who do not keep their vows. May you continue to heal as you offer your wounds as a means of healing for others.
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Thanks very much for your kind words, Rusty ❤
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Many years ago I preached a short series on Rom. 12:18-21. One of my deacons told me after the morning service he’d find it impossible to put it into practice… Yet it has helped me through a number of fiery trials when unfairly attacked (in my judgment) by others… It’s a tough one…
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I agree, Romans 12:18-21 is impossible to put into practice – but if we are humble enough, we will recognize that the entire spiritual life is “impossible to put into practice.” That we think we can do anything without God’s Spirit – is at the base of our problem. I rue to speak merely philosophically about these matters, but fortunately we see all this “put into practice” by the very one who was “nailed to the cross.” May we be found faithful to pick up our cross daily and follow Him… all the way to our own ultimate crucifixion. Now that we are nearer the end of our time here, I think we can recognize how short life is, and that all of life need be lived “in Him” – for indeed, all of it will continue to be lived in Him. Grace to you.
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True!
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