Vengeance

 

For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30)

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44)

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)

A call is going out across America that it is right and good for “oppressed people” to seek revenge against their oppressors – or against the descendants of the oppressors of their ancestors, or those who represent (to the vengeance seekers) the oppressors. It’s not a new call. Thousands celebrated vengeance against Osama Bin Laden. Thousands more celebrated vengeance against Saddam Hussein.

There are many in America who would like to take vengeance against anyone who denies them the right to shove their philosophy down our throats. Sometimes, it’s individual vengeance. Often, it’s mob vengeance. Those against whom vengeance is sought are often not even those who committed the crime. It is our Christian duty, some would say, to submit to or even to invite the vengeance-taking.

And, there’s a sense in which I agree.  We are commanded not to take vengeance. We are also commanded to love our enemies, and to walk with someone two miles if they require one from us. I don’t even think we should be careful that we walk exactly two miles. We are to submit to the wrong that is done against us. But I find nothing in Scripture that tells me that we are to say that the wrong done against us is either right or justified just because someone else says it is. I see nothing that tell us we are to agree that what is done against us is good, or right, or just, or acceptable. For me to tell you that it’s OK for you to do something harmful to me is harmful to you, and therefore hateful on my part. I cannot stand by and say nothing just because you think you’re justified.

We are commanded to forgive those who do wrong against us. That’s not an arbitrary command given to Christians. It’s a healthy practice for everyone. It doesn’t mean that we’re to say it wasn’t wrong, or that it wasn’t painful, or that there aren’t (and shouldn’t be) legal or natural consequences. It involves our not seeking the “joy” of punishment. It involves not holding on to the pain or offense. It involves a willingness to fix things to the extent that they can be fixed. It can also involve the recognition that there is nothing that will make up for what happened and nothing that will fix the damage caused. Inflicting pain on the guilty party won’t really change anything. Forgiving – or seeking to forgive – is what gives freedom.

There's one last factor about seeking vengeance. God has promised that He will take vengeance. It's His job. That makes seeking vengeance saying, effective, "You're not doig Your job. Step down, and let me handle it. I'll show you how it's done."