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What Is The Biblical
Response |
by Brother David Buffaloe
Open Office Handout |
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If you breathe the same air I breathe and live on planet earth for just a few years then you, like myself, have been “despitefully used” by someone. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was “despitefully used”, and He warned us that this would be true in our own lives. Matthew 5:44 (KJV) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" Luke 6:28 (KJV) "Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." How do we, as Christians, respond if we are “despitefully used”? If you are not a Christian, or if you are a Christian who is in carnality, or out of fellowship with God, then this study will mean little to you. But if you are a Christian who is truly seeking to live your life as unto Jesus, then you will be blessed as you study God's Word and apply its precepts to your life. Defining The Terms Matthew 5:44 (KJV) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;" When our Lord Jesus warned us about being despitefully used He used the Greek word epereazo {pronounced ep-ay-reh-ad’-zo), which refers to a number of offenses. Epereazo means: 1) to insult, 2) to treat abusively, use despitefully, 3) to revile, 4) in a forensic sense, to accuse falsely, 5) to threaten. In short, the word can refer to both physical as well as emotional abuse, including slander, defamation of character, false accusations, and so on. Epereazo refers to mistreatment at the hands of another. Another interesting aspect of this word in the context of Matthew 5:44 is that it is a Present Active Participle, meaning that the action of the verb is durative. In other words, our Lord says: ... pray for them that keep on despitefully using you .. Jesus is not talking about an isolated incident, He is referring to someone who keeps on mistreating you. This person may or may not repent of their action. They may either continue the abuse, or else cease the abuse after a time – but the believer's response is conditioned, not to the action of the offender, but to the command of Christ. The next point that I think we need to define is who the offender is. The offender can fall into one of three categories: 1) An unbeliever, i.e. A heathen or infidel; 2) A believer or Christian in fellowship with God, and 3) A believer or Christian out of fellowship with God. Though my overt response to being despitefully used must be the same regardless as to who is offending me, there are additional procedures that must be taken if the offender is a Christian. Love my Enemies? Matthew 5:44 (KJV) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies ... When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, we actually need to define love in the context of the Bible. Our present society has terribly perverted the meaning of love - but God's Word will bring us back to a proper understanding and proper application of "love". This may be confusing to us, but the Word, in its original language, is very specific on what love is. In the Old Testament we find several specific Hebrew words for love:
In the New Testament we also find several specific Greek words for love:
The love that Jesus commands us to exercise in Matthew 5:44 is agapao, or what we commonly call agape (noun form) or agapao (verb form). Agape is not rooted in emotion, but in obedient action. In our society when we say the word “love” the first thing that we think of is a warm, fuzzy emotional sense of well being. But Biblical love is not emotional, but it is to “do the highest good toward another party” regardless of emotion. Christians are commanded to agapao, exercise the Love of God both Godward as well as Manward (Matthew 22:37-40). The love that we Christians are commanded to do is based on obedience, not emotion. We may not like someone, or emotionally love someone, but we are to do love toward them anyway (Matthew 5:44). This is emphasized by the fact that Jesus said “love (agapao) your enemies (echthros {pronounced ech-thros’}, hateful or hate filled person). It is impossible to emotionally have “warm and fuzzy feelings” about people who are attacking you – but you can do the highest good toward them, regardless of emotion, if you are obedient to the command of Christ. The love we are commanded to exercise does NOT sugarcoat nor hide the truth (Mark 10:21), for the Christian is always to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15; 1 John 3:18; 2 John 1:3). The Christian is to love in action just as God loves in action. We may not like the person, but we are to do the highest good toward them (Luke 6:35). Though you may not have emotional love for the offending party while you are exercising the highest good toward them, we are still to do good to the offender (Luke 7:46-47). Our God and Savior intensely dislikes sin, and has no love for it. Yet, even though the sin of the world is detested, He provided salvation in Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross. (Malachi 2:17; John 3:16). Our love must be without hypocrisy and even handed toward all (Romans 12:9), for God is even handed in the dispensation of His love. Finally, Beloved, if you love Jesus you will do as He asks, regardless as to how you feel (John 14:15; John 14:21, 23-24; John 15:9-10) If I Follow The Command ... Matthew 5:44-48 (KJV) "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; {45} That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. {46} For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? {47} And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? {48} Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Jesus tells us in this passage (and the word agapao, love, is a Present Active Imperative, a command) to “keep on loving” my enemies. How do we do this? Do we respond in like fashion, attacking them back as they attack us? Do we use the Old Testament law of lex talionis, “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth”? Absolutely not! The law of tooth and claw, expressed in: Exodus 21:23-25 (KJV) "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, {24} Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, {25} Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." Has often been misinterpreted. The law of “eye for an eye” was given by God to the children of Israel as a means of determining governmental punishment under the law of Israel. That is, if a person broke the Law in Israel, then they could only be punished up to the same point. If a person intentionally poked out someone's eye then, under the Law of lex talionis, the rulers of Israel could enact the same punishment on the offender. This law of tooth and nail was never meant to be applied by a vengeful person outside of the governing law of Israel. Jesus straightens out this misinterpretation in: Matthew 5:38-41 (KJV) "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: {39} But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. {40} And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. {41} And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain." My personal Christian response to evil is that I, according to the command of Jesus, “resist not evil”. This is the Aorist Active Infinitive of anthistemi {pronounced anth-is’-tay-mee}, which means “to strive in battle with, to reciprocate, to respond in like fashion”. In our society we usually say “fight fire with fire”, yet Jesus commands the Christian to avoid using the “arm of man” , and to use the resources of God. As the Bible says: Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV) "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD." As Christians our utmost concern must be the soul of the unbeliever. If we, as believers, respond in like fashion to persecution by the unbeliever, then the unbelieving world makes light of what we profess to be Christianity and Christ. You see, as Ambassadors for Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV) "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Our primary concern must be to present Christ and Christianity in the best possible light. If we respond to attacks with attacks of our own, we blur the message of the Gospel and shame our Savior. Hebrews 6:6-9 (KJV) "If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. {7} For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: {8} But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. {9} But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." The early Church grew in leaps and bounds because its adherents understood that we are to love, to do the highest good toward our enemies in spite of our feelings. The Gospel of Christ was sown by Christians in fields littered with heathen religion, prostitution, drunkenness, sexual immorality, idolatry, and every manner of persecution. It was considered a national offense to be a Christian under certain Roman rulers, and often the offense of Christianity was punishable by death. Yet Christianity flourished. Justin Martyr, 103-165 AD, "There's no people, Greek or barbarian, by whatsoever name they may be distinguished, whether they dwell in tents or wander about in covered wagons, among whom prayers and thanksgiving are not being offered in the name of the crucified Jesus to the Father.." Tertullian, 160-240 AD, addressing the Romans: "We are but yesterday but already we fill your cities, islands, camps, palace, senate, forum. We have left you only empty temples.." Origen, "In all Greece and in all barbarous races within our world there are tens of thousands who have left their national laws and customary god for the word of Jesus Christ. Though to adhere to this is to incur the hatred of idolaters and to have embraced the word is to incur the risk of death as well, the preaching of the word has found its way into every part of the world.." Eusebius, historian: "There were at that time many successors to the Apostles who reared the edifice on the foundation which they had laid, continuing the work of preaching the Gospel and scattering abundantly over the whole earth the wholesome seed of the heavenly kingdom...a great number of disciples fulfilled the commandment of our Savior. Leaving their countries they fulfilled the office of Evangelist to carry the Gospel to those who had not heard.." The Gospel of Christ spread like wildfire, teaching that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16). This message was most effective because of the change that was seen in the disciples of Christ. Christians, like Jesus, turned the other cheek. When Stephen was unjustly stoned to death (Acts 7:58-60) with his dying breath he asked God to forgive these misguided and lost people. The chief assassin, Saul (Acts 8:1) would later be converted to Christianity on Damascus Road (Acts 9:4-6), and the living example of Christianity he saw while unsaved would drive him to excellence as an Apostle of Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 (KJV) "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. {10} But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Galatians 1:13-17 (KJV) "For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: {14} And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. {15} But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, {16} To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: {17} Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus." What Saul did while he was unsaved, and the response that the Christians gave to his persecution would be fuel that fanned the flames of fervor for Paul the Apostle, so much so that he would become one of the greatest – if not the greatest – Apostles of the Church Age. Would Paul have been as dedicated, or would he have even been converted if Stephen, as he was being stoned, grabbed one of the stones and chunked it back at Saul? Would Paul have been as driven as he was if the Christians he persecuted responded, in guerrilla fashion, and attacked him back as he traveled the Damascus Road? The Bible tells us who are Christians: Romans 12:18-21 (KJV) "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. {19} Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. {20} Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. {21} Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." That we must never avenge ourselves. “Avenge” is the Greek ekdikeo {pronounced ek-dik-eh’-o} which means “to vindicate, punish, or repay for ones self”. This is a Present Active Participle plus the Greek negative particle me {pronounced may}, which together means “stop avenging yourselves”. How are we to treat our enemies if we are not to take vengeance? The Romans text gives us a three-way command: First, in verse 18 we are told if it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. This statement is objective, that is, "if others will allow you to do so, then live peacefully with all men". The burden not to take vengeance lies with the Christian. The burden to seek to live peacefully with all others lies with us, not with the world nor with the worldly. Denney states: "Over others conduct we have no control, but the initiative in disturbing the peace is never to lie with the Christian". Second, in verse 19 we are told to give place unto wrath. Wrath is the Greek ORGE, meaning "a violent passionate reaching forth of the mind in order to inflict punishment". The Christian is to give place unto wrath. We should allow God to judge and punish, never never taking the place of God ourselves. Christians are allowed to be angry, however we are only allowed to be angry, according to the Word of God, for a 24 hour period, that is, until the sun goes down. In the Jewish world the setting of the sun started a new day, so when the new day started the Christian was expected to get over his anger at being despitefully used. Ephesians 4:26 "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath" In our above text “angry” (ORGIZIMO) and the word “wrath” (PARORGISMOS) refer to "irritation, anger, frustration". The words do not imply vengeance, nor are they related to ORGE violent anger. The Bible recognizes that we may be emotional if offended, we may be a little hot under the collar. This is human. But as Christians we are never to allow our emotions to control our actions. I have heard believers say, “But Brother David, I'm just so mad! I can't help it!” Yes, Beloved, you can help it. Only an animal can't help what it does. If the professing believer cannot control his own response to being despitefully used then he or she has fallen away from operational Christianity. Proverbs 25:28 (KJV) "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." Finally, in Romans 12:3 we see the Christian principal of retaliation: if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. If my enemy does evil to me, if he despitefully uses me, then my only response is to do good to him no matter what. When the world attacks the Christian and sees only love as a response, this Biblical response will inevitably lead people to Christ. But when the world hears of Church fights, bickering, evil doing, maligning, backbiting – in short, when we act worldly in response to worldly attack, then we have absolutely no impact on those around us. Why would the world want to go and worship at a Church or with a people who use exactly the same resources that the world itself uses? Poor Christian response to persecution has done more to drive people away from the Church of Christ than any publication of the heathen world. Doing good to your enemy is not just a
New Testament teaching, either. God has always used Grace as a means of
approaching people, and has always wanted His people to be Grace oriented
in their response to the world: Job 31:28-30 "This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above. If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. " Proverbs 24:17-20 "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out. " Proverbs 25:21-22 "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. " We are not to withhold good from our enemies. To do so would be to take passive vengeance against them, totally contrary to the will of God. Nor are we allowed to attack our enemies in like fashion as they have attacked us. Christians are always supposed to return good to our enemies when they do evil to us. Leave vengeance in God's hands. He will repay, for the Bible says: Hebrews 10:30-31 (KJV) "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. {31} It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." What About Offenses From Christians? What if I am attacked or offended by another Christian? What is my response to be in that situation? First of all, if the person who attacked you is a Christian, then he or she is a member of the same Body of Christ that you are. The Bible teaches that Christians by faith in Jesus Christ are members of the Body of Christ on earth: 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (KJV) "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. {27} Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." When the cells of a person's human body turn rogue and begin attacking other cells, we call this condition cancer. Cancer is best treated, with today's medicines, by attempting to destroy the rogue cells by chemotherapy without hurting the healthy cells. When a Christian goes rogue and attacks another Christian we do not kill that person with chemotherapy, but we do treat the symptom in a similar fashion. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the following way of dealing with a “cancerous condition” in the Church: Step 1: Discuss The Matter In Private Matthew 18:15 (KJV) "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." If your brother makes a mistake or sins against you (KJV is “trespass”, Greek hamartano {pronounced ham-ar-tan’-o}) then your first step is to go and talk to that brother or sister in private. This is a far cry from what many Christians do today. Generally we talk to everyone else about it, stir up a mess of trouble, and fan the flames to blazing proportions before we do what Jesus said. Jesus tells us: “go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone” In other words, don't tell your friends. Don't discuss it with coworkers, or Church members. Don't even tell your wife about it. Go to your brother privately, quickly, and show him how he wronged you using the Scripture. The Word of God must be your guide, not some personal taboo or preference. Go to your brother or sister in humility: 1 Peter 5:5 (KJV) "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." And lay bare your heart. It may be a simple misunderstanding. Beloved, it may be you who is wrong. Be open to the leading of God the Holy Spirit when you approach the one who has offended you. How many local churches have been shattered because Christians have failed in following this step? How many unbelievers have been frightened from the church services because we have failed in this first point? Only God knows, only God knows! Step 2: Discuss The Matter In The Presence of Witnesses Matthew 18:16 (KJV) "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." If the offending brother or sister refuses to hear you, or if you cannot reach a peaceful conclusion, then you are to bring witnesses to the next meeting. This is a practice that God established in the Mosaic Law for trials – there had to be at least two or three witnesses to establish the veracity of a charge. By taking two or three witnesses to the next conciliatory meeting you will be gathering evidence for the next phase. By taking two or three witnesses you have impartial arbitrators present that can guide the discussion, witness the behavior of both parties, and perhaps suggest a peaceful resolution. If the offender, after thorough discussion, continues to be malignant, then we move to step three. Step 3: Take The Matter Public, In Front of the Church Matthew 18:17 (KJV) "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican." The local Church assembly becomes the jury that witnesses the final outcome. If the offending party refuses to repent, then that member is shunned as a heathen and a publican – that is, until they repent. Once the offender repents, then restore that person to fellowship: Galatians 6:1 (KJV) "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." The purpose of Jesus' method was not to kill the offender, but to correct the situation with the least amount of force possible. You don't swat flies with cannonballs. Don't use overkill with a fallen brother or sister. Traps To Avoid Proverbs 25:23 (KJV) "The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue." Deuteronomy 27:24 (KJV) "Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen." Psalms 101:5 (KJV) "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer." Psalms 15:1-3 (KJV) "LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? {2} He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. {3} He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor." Psalms 34:12-13 (KJV) "What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? {13} Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalms 39:1 (KJV) "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me." Psalms 52:1-2 (KJV) "Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. {2} Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully." The greatest trap to avoid as a believer is, I have found (both Scripturally as well as in myself) is the sins of the tongue. There is something inside of each of us that wants to talk about what we just went through, to rehash the situation, to seek the pity and concern of others, to “share the gory details”. Yet you will find no where in Scripture where backbiting (as we used to call it) is condoned. Backbiting is a sin of the tongue that can cause God's Discipline to fall on you. Here are a few Scriptural points to remember:
Remember this: it is always more difficult to plow a field if someone has plowed it wrong before you. It is extremely difficult to tell others about Jesus Christ if Christians have been sharing their trials and tribulations, their church fights with the unsaved. The damage you do with your tongue is hard to put right – be careful, little tongue, what you say! Besides all that, remember that as Christians in fellowship with our Savior we are to do the highest good toward all people. I don't think you could make a case in the courtroom of God that backbiting and slander are “in the best interest of my neighbor”. Conclusion Christians are supposed to be faith and grace oriented people, ever following the example that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ set. There are times we are going to be despitefully used. Even so, our response must always be to love as Jesus loved. There is coming a day when we all have to give an account of ourselves to God our Savior. If this is true (and I believe it is), then we need to heed the Scripture: Romans 14:12-13 (KJV) "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. {13} Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." When we despitefully used God, He still died for us. When we took His name in vain, He still died for us. When we cursed Him as a dog, He cried from the tree: Luke 23:34 (KJV) "... Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.... " So we who undeservedly received eternal salvation are called to do good to our enemies, to return kindness for evil, and – in short – to walk and talk as our Lord Jesus gave us an example: 1 Peter 2:19-24 (KJV) "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. {20} For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. {21} For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: {22} Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: {23} Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: {24} Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." What better example could there be? By the Name of Jesus, Brother David Buffaloe |