Turning the other cheek, part 2
I posted about the subversive nature of Jesus' advice to turn the other cheek. Thanks to Les Jones in a comment for the link to this PDF article on the topic on the Pax Christi site at Penn State.

I pointed out in my first post that,

Turning the other cheek actually could well have been Jesus’ admonishment to the people under oppression by the Romans and class structures to stop being passive and start resisting, but never to be the aggressor and to provide an opportunity for the oppressor to ponder the evil of his ways.

Says the Pax Christi piece,

As it stands, this saying seems to encourage being a complete pansy. If your husband punches you on one cheek, turn the other; let him pulverize you. If you are sued for a piece of clothing, give all your clothes voluntarily, as an act of pious renunciation. And if a Roman soldier forces you to carry his pack one mile, be a chump: carry it two. And the crowning blow: don’t resist evil at all.

You probably have instinctively known something was wrong with this picture. Jesus always resisted evil. Why would he tell us to behave in ways his actions refuted? Using historical context we can imagine a more understandable and inspiring interpretation than is usually given.

The Greek word translated as “resist” (antistenai), is literally “to stand (stenai) against (anti).” The term is taken from warfare. When two armies collide, they were said to “stand against” each other. This translation is given in the new Scholars Bible: “Don’t react violently against the one who is evil.” The meaning is clear: don’t react in kind, don’t mirror your enemy, don’t turn into the very thing you hate. Jesus is not telling us not to resist evil, but only not to resist it violently.

Which is what I was saying, I just didn't elaborate on that part as much or as well. It also makes the same point I did make:

By turning the other cheek, the “inferior” is saying, in no uncertain terms, “I won’t take such treatment anymore. I am your equal. I am a child of God.” This is not submission - it is defiance.

The piece also explains Jesus' admonishment to give someone your tunic as well as your cloak when he sues you, and why carrying a Roman soldier's pack an extra mile placed the soldier in jeopardy of punishment at his commander's hands.

by Donald Sensing, 12/3/2003 03:08:58 PM. Permalink |