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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-07-03, Page 12By Pastor Ernest DowLiving Water ChristianFellowship (EMC), BlythIt’s virtually automatic - it’s an unthinking human response in us, almost a reflex – to ‘pay back’ when we’re hurt, tit-for-tat. Revenge is ‘second nature’, it’s instinctive to pay someone back when wronged. Survivors of those who are killed long to see justice done; Beijing showed nervousness about parents who seeking an inquiry into shoddy school construction following the earthquake, so authorities were blocking access to the sites where evidence might be found. From earliest civilizations, laws have been required to hold in check the murderous impulses that can be unleashed in those seeking retaliation. The so-called ‘Lex Talionis’ restricted revenge from tribal vendettas, so someone who had broken his opponent’s nose in a fist-fight didn’t suffer worse injury or death in revenge. In the Bible it’s found at Exodus 21:23-25, “But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” Revenge is expected, a natural human desire. As far as protecting and preserving what belongs to us, that is practically understood. Then along comes Jesus saying “Turn the other cheek”: are we going to react? Definitely! That challenges our deep-down, self-preserving instincts that we just took for granted. However, let’s not write theseteachings off right away; Jesus callsus to respond not naturally butsupernaturally as new creatures, with God’s help. Jesus has the right to command us thus because He died to redeem us for Himself. Myron Augsburger writes, “The disciple is to live by the higher law of love and thereby respond to the treatment he receives from others in a manner reflecting the freedom and love of Christ. This love was ultimately expressed by Jesus on the cross, where He expressed the deepest love to His enemies and extended forgiveness to all.” He’s not asking us to do anything He didn’t practise Himself! John writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1John 3:16) I like Tevye’s response in Fiddler On The Roof when a villager advocates revenge, the damage inflicted on the Jews in that Russian village: “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth!” “Very well,” Tevye says, “The whole world will be blind and toothless.” Jesus suggests a better alternative. “But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39) Not retaliating isn’t just a case of Jesus overstating something, but it’s echoed other places in the New Testament. “Make sure that nobodypays back wrong for wrong, butalways try to be kind to each otherand to everyone else.” (1 Thessalonians 5:15) “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1Pe 3:9) And the classic passage on revenge is Romans 12:17-21: let God look after the ‘payback’; our part is to feed a hungry enemy and so overcome evil with good. In Matthew 5:44,46 Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? “ It wasn’t easy for Corrie Ten Boom to forgive the Nazi captors who had tormented her at Ravensbruck. They had caused her to suffer horribly. Even worse, they had caused the death of her sister, Betsy. Ten years after her release, Corrie ran into a lady who wouldn’t look her in the eyes. Asking about her, Corrie was told the woman had been a nurse at a concentration camp. Suddenly the memories flashed back. Corrie recalled taking Betsy to the infirmary to see this woman. Betsy’s feet were paralyzed, and she was dying. The nurse had been cruel and sharp-tongued. Corrie’s hatred now returned with vengeance. Her rage so boiled that she knew of but one thing to do. “Forgive me,” she cried out to the Lord, “Forgive my hatred, O Lord. Teach me to love my enemies.”The blood of Jesus Christ seemedto suddenly cool her embitteredheart, and she felt the rage being displaced with a divine love she couldn’t explain. She began praying for the woman, and one day shortly afterward she called the hospital where the nurse worked and invited the woman to a meeting at which she was speaking. “What!” replied the nurse.”Do you want me to come?” “Yes, that is why I called you.” “Then I’ll come.” That evening the nurse listened carefully to Corrie’s talk, and afterward Corrie sat down with her, opened her Bible, and explained I John 4:9: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” The woman seemed to thirst for Corrie’s quiet, confident words about God’s love for us, his enemies. And that night, a former captive led her former captor to receive Jesus as Saviour and discover eternal peace and God’s forgiveness. Corrie later explained that God had taken her subconscious feelings of hatred and transformed them,using them as a window throughwhich His light could shine into adarkened heart.PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2008.From the Minister’s StudyOvercoming revenge with blessing The Community Vacation Bible School will be held July 21-25 at Blyth’s Christian Reformed Church. This year, all six local churches have been involved in putting together the program. The theme is Veggie Tales — Pirates Won’t Do Anything. The program begins each day at 9 a.m. until noon and there is no fee to attend. Children who have just completed junior kindergarten, up to those who have just completed Grade 6 are eligible to participate. Attendance is not required every day, so youngsters can come out and enjoy the program whenever it works for them. At the end of the week, there will be a closing program Friday night, to which parents are invited. Anyone wanting more information can contact Heleen Van Drop at 519- 523-4753 or Lorna Fraser at 519- 523-9687. THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Welcomes you to come and worship with us Parish of New Beginnings Morning Prayer - July 6 Trinity, Blyth 9:30 a.m. 519-523-9595 St. John's, Brussels 11:15 a.m. 519-887-6862 MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS SUNDAY, JULY 6TH Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available Rev. Cathrine Campbell - 519-887-9831 11:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 9:30 am - Sunday Belgrave Service Corner of Dinsley & Mill Street Blyth United Church Office: 519-523-4224 All Welcome Sunday, July 6 Worship Service at 11:00 a.m. Sunday school will resume September 14th PASTOR DAVID WOOD 119 John’s Ave.,Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org 10:30 a.m. Morning Worship Vacation Bible School “Out of Egypt” July 7-11 9:30 am - 12:00 noon Pre-register Today! Call 519-526-1131 x4 Mondays, Wednesdays or Thursdays Please Note... For the summer months, Sunday Small Groups and Evening Services are cancelled Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, July 6th Brussels Arena at 10:30 a.m. In various homes at 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age (mornings only) Childcare provided for infants and toddlers Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact: Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 Please join us for worship SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00am Evening Service 7:30pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor John Kuperus Hwy. 4, Blyth Blyth churches host Vacation Bible School getlivingwater.org Pastor: Ernest Dow 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship July 6: Philippians 1:19ff We will be meeting at the Blyth Community Church of God for the months of July and August at 10:30 a.m. “Hanging On in a Hard Place” Christ-centred, Bible-believing, Fellowship-friendly, Growth-geared 308 Blyth Rd. E. ~ Pastor Les Cook 519-523-4590 B l y t h C o m m u n i ty Church of God C H U R C H O F G O D ,ANDERS O N , I N D I A N A “The Church is not a building, it is people touching people Worship Service 10:30 a.m. for July and August See you Sunday! BRUSSELS - ETHEL PASTORAL CHARGE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA Sandra Cable, Worship Leader Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - bepc@wightman.ca Sunday, July 6 Ethel United Church Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. Brussels United Church Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship