| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Ninure Saunders" |
| Date: |
21 Feb 2004 09:40:14 AM |
| Object: |
(~) REVENGE OR KINDNESS? |
(~) REVENGE OR KINDNESS?
Way down upon the Mississippi, two tugboat captains who had been friends
for years, would always cry "Aye!" and blow their whistles whenever they
passed each other.
A new crewman asked his boat's mate, "What do they do that for?"
The mate looked surprised and replied, "You mean that you've never heard
of... an aye for an aye and a toot for a toot?"
<<insert groan here>>
I suspect that few of us would admit to living by the motto, "An eye for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Matthew 5:38), but lets be honest --
there is something instead us that enjoys the idea of getting revenge.
Some of the more popular movies throughout the past years have been those
that opened with someone being mistreated. We'll spend the rest of the
movie anxiously waiting for the hero to get the opportunity to exact his
revenge -- and then we cheer!
It's not much different on a personal level. I suspect that whenever
somebody does you wrong, the temptation is there to immediately start
thinking of what you can do to get them back. But, if you find yourself
tempted to take revenge, may I suggest two things:
(1) Resist the temptation to exchange evil for evil. That temptation will
always be strong and we need realize that it will be there. But we also
need to remember the emptiness and hollowness of revenge and resentment.
(2) Show your enemy kindness. Abraham Lincoln was once accused of
being too nice to his enemy. He was told to be firmer; he must destroy his
enemies. He replied, "I do destroy them when they become my
friends."
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate
your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use
you and persecute you." (Matt. 5:43-44)
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Ninure Saunders aka Rainbow Christian
http://Rainbow-Christian.tk
The Lord is my Shepherd and He knows I'm Gay
http://Ninure-Saunders.tk
My Yahoo Group
http://Ninure.tk
My Online Diary
http://www.ninure.deardiary.net
-
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
http://www.MCCchurch.org
To send e-mail, remove nohate from address
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