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Prayer

Terror and Turning the Other Cheek (Luke 6:27-36; Romans 13:1-5)

Where: College Baptist Church

When: October 21, 2001

Why: To help us understand the different roles of personal love and prayer for our enemies and a nation's responsibility to seek justice against enemies; to promote prayer for our enemies and our government.

Text: Luke 6:27-36; Romans 13:1-5

Introduction

Times like these do something to cause us to somehow focus on important issues that we may have overlooked in the past. We experience emotions that we haven't felt for a long time. We consider God and His character through eyeglasses that we may not have had before.

When something happens like September 11, we are faced with a dissonance in our understanding of the world. We interpret things differently. We approach daily life more as if life depended on today.

Some of the dissonance comes from moral and spiritual dilemmas that we haven't had to personally wrestle with before.

One such dilemma is the clashing dissonance of the commands of our Commander-in-Chief- and I mean Jesus Christ- and that which we want to do. There is a dissonance between His will and our natural desires and what makes sense to us.

To what am I referring? I am talking about this whole idea about God being a God of love and His apparent expectation that we should be loving even when it goes against everything in us. Theologically and spiritually, it is the issue of love, mercy and justice. On the personal and church level, it has to do with Christian obedience and submission to the express will of Jesus Christ. On the national level, it has to do with being God's agent in administering justice in an evil world.

In an uncertain world, the Christian finds harmony in the dissonance of life by embracing and living the radical teaching and character of Jesus Christ.

How does God want us to personally respond- as Christian individuals and as a local church- to 9/11?

Please follow along with me in your Bibles as I read Luke 6:27-36.

Luke 6:27. 27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34 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. 35 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 sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do you hear the dissonance? Do you feel it? There is a dissonance between His will and our natural desires and what makes sense to us. What makes sense to us in our human nature? Strike back. Get revenge. Give 'em what they got comin'. Driving back from Seattle on September 15 one patriotic American had painted across the back window of his SUV, "Yes, God bless America. Now lets . . ." And he colorfully said something about vigorously connecting one's foot with the posterior of the human anatomy which I shouldn't repeat in public. It does reflect the attitude of the natural man.

In contrast, listen to the positive verbs that Jesus used in this teaching regarding our reactions to our enemies.

    • Love your enemies.
    • Do good to those who hate you.
    • Bless those who curse you.
    • Pray for those who mistreat you.
    • Turn to him the other cheek.
    • Give to everyone who asks of you.

These verbs move beyond mere pacifism to aggressive Christian action. And that, in the face of opposition, hate, persecution, and injustice.

Is it just to do good when harm is done to you? No. Is it just to be struck a second time without resistance? No. Is it just on a cold an blustery day to have not only your outer coat taken away but your inner tunic as well? It wouldn't seem so.

But it is loving and merciful. It is like the Father. It is like Jesus Christ.

Listen again to verses 35 and 36. 35 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 sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

What do you and I have in common with the terrorists who flew those planes on September 11? It is in what we deserve. We deserve to receive justice. Listen closely. We deserve to be the objects of God's justice.

I do not want to upset you or make you angry, but let me say something that you probably did not anticipate hearing today. You and I deserve the full justice of God's wrath. Before God, each are as guilty as if we ourselves have piloted planeloads of innocent victims into a towering inferno. The only way we do not receive the justice of God's wrath is through the mercy of God. The heavenly Father is merciful.

Let me explain. You see, the Bible teaches us that it is sin which cries out for God's justice. The terrorist acts of September 11 were heinous acts of sin. But we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The just price to be paid for sin before God is death. For the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). The death penalty for sin is in effect to all humanity by edict of a just, righteous and holy God- to high profile terrorists and us ordinary garden variety offenders of God's justice.

But we take heart. The Father is merciful. The just price for justice has been paid. Echoing the words of Jesus earlier, I tell you who hear me, let's hear what the Holy Spirit says about Jesus Christ and justice and mercy and love. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished- 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:22-26).

Justified- God's justice is satisfied through Jesus Christ. He is just and demands justice. And He provides a way for all sinners to be justified through Jesus Christ. Not only is the slate of justice wiped clean, we receive righteousness from God through faith in Jesus Christ. This righteousness is a free gift, a relationship with God established through receiving His free gift of salvation through faith. Astoundingly, as fellow terrorists so-to-speak with the criminals of September 11, there is nothing we can do to gain justice and acceptance from God. It is a gift of God to be received in humble, life-changing faith. It is the defining truth of Christianity. God in His love, mercy, and grace, justifies us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

This brings us back to "love your enemies" and "turn the other cheek." It is not natural to respond to our enemies in this way. But it is the way of Jesus. When we become Christians, we receive Jesus and He rules our lives as Lord. He lives in us and through us. Scripture tells us to die to ourselves and let His life live through us. That is our sinful way of living, our self-dependent ways are replaced by the life and character of Jesus Christ (Romans 6:11-14; Galatians 2:20). We are Jesus dependent now. His values, character and teaching are our way of life.

Loving enemies and not striking back when struck, is the way of Jesus. It is what He did when he died on the cross for our sins.

What Jesus Christ requires of us as those who have been justified by the grace of His loving, and unconditional sacrifice for us, is to love and pray for our enemies. He loved us and gave us mercy when we nailed Him to the cross, when we murdered Him. Now with His life in us, that is what He commands us to do.

>>>The Christian finds harmony in the dissonance of life in an uncertain world by embracing and living the radical teaching and character of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is tough. No we can't do it. But we agree with the apostle Paul, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. How do we do that? The righteous live by faith (Romans 1:17). It is Christ's life and He lives in me.

Our personal and church response to the hate and persecution of enemies hostile to the gospel of Christ is the radical embrace of the teaching and example of Jesus Christ.

But as a nation, what do we do? As a nation, do we turn the other cheek? Do succumb to the demands of injustice?

How does God want us to respond as a nation to 9/11?

As individuals God calls us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. I believe Scripture teaches us, though, that God places on the government of nations the responsibility of bringing about and maintaining stability in the world, holding back the tide of evil, and establishing justice where it is needed.

Romans 13:1-4. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Let's note some key concepts in this passage which inform the issue of justice and national response to terrorism.

  • According to verse 1, government authorities exist because God has established them. This is a strong statement regarding God's sovereign rule in the world.
  • Consequently, verse 2 tells us, if someone rebels us against governing authorities, he or she is actually rebelling against God.
  • Logically, then, verse 3 says that people who are not lawbreakers, have nothing to fear.
  • Verse 4 establishes that governing authorities are God's servant and agent to bring punishment on wrongdoers. He does not bear the sword for nothing.

We can surmise from these verses that governing authority is responsible and answerable to God. God raises up and brings down governments for His purposes.

John Piper agrees. "God wills that human justice hold sway among governments, and between citizens and civil authority. He does not prescribe that governments always turn the other cheek. The government 'does not bear the sword for nothing.' Police have the God-given right to use force to restrain evil and bring law-breakers to justice. If these truths are known, this God-ordained exercise of divine prerogative would glorify the justice of God who mercifully ordains that the flood of sin and misery be restrained in the earth."

Yes, government has a responsibility to protect it's citizens. Yes, justice is appropriate. Yes, we do act in self-defense. Yes, tighten the noose. Yes, we do all physically possible to eliminate terrorism.

Conclusion

I agree with Piper's conclusion. "We will magnify the mercy of God by praying for our enemies to be saved and reconciled to God. At the personal level we will be willing suffer for their everlasting good, and we will give them food and drink. We will put away malicious hatred and private vengeance. But at the public level we will also magnify the justice of God by praying and working for justice to be done on the earth, if necessary through wise and measured force from God-ordained authority."

This morning I extend to you a call to prayer.

Let us pray for our government and our soldiers who are in harm's way. Let us pray that justice may be done. Let us pray for wisdom for our leaders. Let us pray that they will provide strong spiritual and moral leadership, in addition to military expertise.

Let us pray for Afghanistan, the Taliban, and al Quaida. Perhaps this is the hardest. But to not do so, is to intentionally be disobedient to the express will of God. To not love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us in essence denying our love for Jesus Christ. If you love me, you will obey what I command (John 14:16).

How can I do that? What would I specifically pray for my enemies?

I've included a bulletin insert from the latest edition of Operation World. This sheet gives helpful sociological, geographic, political, and spiritual data on the country of Afghanistan. It includes specific prayer points for the country. I challenge you to pray daily this week for this victimized nation.

Pray also for the salvation of key Taliban and al Quaida members. Remember that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Yes, it would take a miracle for the darkness surrounding these hearts and minds to be open to the illuminating light of Jesus Christ. But He saved us didn't He? He did the impossible then, didn't He. Let's pray for their most important need.

Pray for the 1,000 - 3,000 Christians in Afghanistan. They are persecuted. They suffer. But historically it is the church that is persecuted which bears the most effective witness. Pray for their boldness. Pray for power. Pray for perseverance. Pray for opportunities for the remnant of the Body of Christ- our brothers and sisters- to share the love of Christ with their enemies. Pray those opportunities will lead to transformed lives.

Pray that they would understand the folly of military resistance. Pray that their hearts would be softened and that they would have mercy on the innocent victims of this mindless hate and terror.

Pray for the starving people of Afghanistan. Pray for, and give to, as this passage exhorts us, relief organizations ministering to suffering Afghans.

And praise God for His mercy. He is merciful to you. He is merciful to me. But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8)

 

Resources


Patrick Johnstone & Jason Mandryk, Operation World. Waynesboror, GA: Paternoster Lifestyle, 2001.
John Piper, "Terrorism, Justice, and Loving Our Enemies," September 12, 2001. Available on the web at http://www.desiringgod.or/.

 

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