Do Not Seek Revenge and Retribution
Do Not Seek Revenge and Retribution
Revenge and retribution are not consistent with God's command to love your neighbor.
NOTE TO READERS: See this link for a version of this blog that includes more scripture.
Donald Trump has famously said that he will bring vengeance and retribution against his enemies and enemies of people who support him.
He said,
"I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution."
"Look, when this election is over, based on what they've done, I would have every right to go after them, and it would be easy because it's Joe Biden."
The "them" Mr. Trump has in mind here is not just Joe Biden.
He wants to restructure the entire federal government to suit his political agenda.
Mr. Trump's statements contradict what God has said about retribution revenge, and relationships with governments.
Here is what God says about revenge and retribution:
Isaiah 59:18: According to what they have done, so will he repay wrath to his enemies and retribution to his foes; he will repay the islands their due.
Isaiah 35:4: say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to
save you."
Jeremiah 51:56 A destroyer will come against Babylon; her warriors will be captured, and their bows will be broken. For the LORD is a God of retribution; he will repay in full.
Isaiah 34:8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion's cause.
Deuteronomy 32:35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."
Jeremiah 5:9 Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?
Isaiah 66:6 Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD repaying his enemies all they deserve.
Christians' claims to trust God are revealed as lies and hypocrisy when they encourage politicians like Mr. Trump to seek vengeance and retribution for their grievances instead of waiting for God to avenge them.
Christians say they love Jesus and follow him. And yet, they fail to follow his example regarding his relationship with the government of Rome which symbolically represents all governments -- past, present and future. Roman rulers were exceptionally brutal, oppressive and authoritarian.
Although Jesus was a victim of this government, he did not rebel against it or resist it – even when he was crucified. Jesus' attitude toward Rome and the religious pharisees who conspired to murder him was passive forgiveness. While hanging on the cross he said "Father forgive them because they don't know what they are doing."
This should be the attitude of anyone -- including Christians -- who feel like they are victims of an oppressive government. Jesus did not resist the government and did not try to defend himself. Nor did he retaliate against the religious leaders who plotted to kill him. He spoke truth to the religious leaders but did not resist them.
Jesus did not ask God to intervene for him to protect him from suffering or to avenge his death. Even after he was raised from the dead, he did not plot revenge against Rome or the pharisees.
Failure of Christians to be like Jesus in the matter of revenge in the face of oppression is hypocrisy. They say they follow Jesus but do not.
Mr. Trump's promises to bring retribution and vengeance have been eagerly welcomed by some Christians who are grieved by government policies that threaten their privileged status as white, straight, politically conservative Christians. Even though they otherwise claim to trust God for all their needs, including salvation, they choose to trust Mr. Trump -- not God -- for salvation from a host of existential fears that trouble their hearts. Not only is this hypocrisy, it is a pure form of idolatry.
They put Mr. Trump ahead of God as their agent for both salvation and revenge.
The clear purpose of revenge is to punish those who have offended us or hurt us. Romans 12:9-21 commands totally different responses to real and imagined offenses:
Be devoted to one another in love.
Honor one another above yourselves.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
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.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The first thing to say about these commands is that they do not preclude using legal remedies for punishing wrongdoers. God established governments that adopt laws for dealing with various kinds of offenses. It would be foolish to not take advantage of those laws while keeping in mind that it is possible to obey God's commandments and also access government resources of all kinds -- including the courts. Courts are one way that God provides justice for his people and avenges their grievances.
These are not obscure scriptures. All Christians have heard at least one sermon on them. Nevertheless, it would be hard to find a Christian who obeys any of these commandments. This is inescapable, incriminating evidence of hypocrisy.
These are hard truths for Christians to accept. But they deserve to know that if they say that the bible is a reliable guide for life, and if they say that they follow Jesus, but do not obey these scriptures, they are liars and hypocrites.
Furthermore, they do not give God credit for providing instruction on how to love your neighbor after giving them a clear commandment to love their neighbor.
Who will tell Christian Nationalists that their desire for Mr. Trump to gain retribution on their behalf in exchange for their votes is idolatry and bribery?
Who will tell them that their desire for revenge against the government and political adversaries is inconsistent with what the bible says?
Who will tell them that their claims to be followers of Jesus are lies?
Hypocrisy and idolatry are not illegal with respect to human laws, but they are illegal with respect to God’s laws. Religious leaders and politicians won’t hold Christian Nationalists accountable for hypocrisy and idolatry because they have too much to lose. The media and other courageous Americans who know the truth must hold Christian Nationalists accountable. If they don’t, Christian Nationalists’ lies, hypocrisy and idolatry will destroy America.
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