How to respond to a racist tirad ?

[26 Inf]

I looked up this verse:

Luke 6:29New International Version (NIV)

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.


What does this mean to you and how does it relate to this thread?

Here is complete thought - Luke: 6-27-31

27“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

I refer to Matthew for the nuanced example: (Mt 5:38-42)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[a] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Key difference - 'on the right cheek' - for a right handed person to slap me on the right cheek, he would have to backhand me - in ancient times an insult or challenge. Essentially, it means don't escalate a challenge or insult to violence. Some folks believe it means don't fight back, not true, it just means fight only when necessary.

In case you don't believe that, here is Luke 22: 35-38

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. 36He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” 38The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied.

Sorry for the thread drift, today is Sunday, though.

[SteyrAUG]

No he was a very good friend, which is why this was such a big deal, for me. I tried to get him to come around, but when he went off on this shooting like he did I was shocked. I wish he could learn that such ideas aren't acceptable to me and most people in the USA.

I hope and pray he can use this to learn to change his attitudes.

I don't even know you in real life, but if I met you in person I'd never call you anything like that. I can understand giving a person who hasn't figured it out a little leeway to get it together, especially if they are essentially a good person, but for starters I'd explain that regardless of political views, it's unacceptable for him to speak to you like that.

I have had more civil discourse with people who were anti white racists (BP crowd) who I didn't even like as a person, but they were speaking like a reasonable person so I did the same even if I felt almost everything they believed was 100% effed up.

[Frailer]

I looked up this verse:

Luke 6:29New International Version (NIV)

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.


What does this mean to you and how does it relate to this thread?

It relates to the post I quoted which cited the "Christian values of western civilization."

We--as a society--do a pretty shitty job of adhering to these values. We talk the talk, but we don't walk the walk.

As to the cited "sell your cloak to buy a sword," Jesus wasn't literally telling his followers to take up arms to defend him (it would have been both pointless and contrary to prophecy). Rather, he was telling his disciples that with his impending arrest they would become fugitives, and the primary threat they would face would be men rather than the elements.

[SteyrAUG]

It relates to the post I quoted which cited the "Christian values of western civilization."

We--as a society--do a pretty shitty job of adhering to these values. We talk the talk, but we don't walk the walk.

As to the cited "sell your cloak to buy a sword," Jesus wasn't literally telling his followers to take up arms to defend him (it would have been both pointless and contrary to prophecy). Rather, he was telling his disciples that with his impending arrest they would become fugitives, and the primary threat they would face would be men rather than the elements.

Thank you. That is the first time anyone has taken the time to explain that in a way that makes any sense at all. Everyone else just parrot's the quote as if they are offering some truly profound information.

[26 Inf]

It relates to the post I quoted which cited the "Christian values of western civilization."

We--as a society--do a pretty shitty job of adhering to these values. We talk the talk, but we don't walk the walk.

As to the cited "sell your cloak to buy a sword," Jesus wasn't literally telling his followers to take up arms to defend him (it would have been both pointless and contrary to prophecy). Rather, he was telling his disciples that with his impending arrest they would become fugitives, and the primary threat they would face would be men rather than the elements.

Agreed. That is clearly what he meant. Sorry, I didn't make my meaning more clear. I guess I didn't consider that other folks weren't aware of this - Luke 22, when Judas betrayed Jesus:

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. 51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Which makes it imminently clear that Jesus wasn't literally telling his followers to take up arms to defend him (it would have been both pointless and contrary to prophecy).

However, as I tried to state, contextually 'sell your cloak and buy one' and 'two swords is enough' does make it clear that use of force in self-defense is appropriate.