Personal Retaliation Forbidden
Christians are instructed not to seek revenge or retaliate against those who have wronged them. Instead, they should leave it to God’s wrath.
• Leviticus 19:18: “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.”
• Proverbs 20:22: “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil;’ wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.”’
• Proverbs 24:29: “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me;’ I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
• Romans 12:17-21: “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
• Matthew 5:38-42: “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.”
• 1 Peter 3:9: “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
•Overcoming Evil With Good:The Bible charges us as believers to respond to evil with good, showing love and forgiveness even to our presumed enemies. Proverbs 25:21-22 (NIV): “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.” Remember the man, David; irrespective of Saul’s evil attempt to hurt him, David never retaliated even when the opportunity came for him to do so.
• Seeking Justice – God’s alternative channel of vengeance: The Bible does not discourage seeking justice or legal recourse when wronged, but it does discourage personal, malicious retaliation.
Proverbs 21:15: “When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous, but terror to evildoers.” Proverbs 24:24-25: “Whoever says to the guilty, “you are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.”
25: “But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them,” (Psalm 82:3). “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute,” (Isaiah 1:17). “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, and please the widow’s cause,” (Micah 6:8). “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
(Luke 11:42). “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
As much as the Holy Spirit can help you let the mind that was in Christ also be in you endeavouring to follow peace with all men.
• The Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is Rector, The Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor,Delta State (08035413812)
