Quote Originally Posted by Pancho Villa View Post
Out of curiousity, how do you, personally, reconcile the ideal of turning the other cheek with defending yourself and/or your property from a thug? <snip> I am genuinely curious how a (to all appearances) faithful man reconciles this heavily promoted Christian virtue with the ideals of self defense. I know the Templars justified that and also the sin of pride by being able to do violence only in defense of Christians (in the holy land,) and being able to take pride only in the organization they belonged to, not any pride in personal accomplishments. Is it something similar with you?
It's not based on pride, it's based on protection...
if they put my family in direct danger- then it's no longer just self-defense- but defense of my family...

if it were just my life that was threatened... do I let him kill me? how does that allow me to protect my family in the future? If he gets away with killing me, how many more would he kill after that?

if it were just property, It would depend on the circumstances... armed robbery, for example- puts people in danger.... if I were to let that person get away with it, they will most likely do it again- and what if somebody is killed the next time... would their blood be on my hands if It were in my means to stop him when he robbed me?

evil must be confronted & combated, or it will remain unchecked...

when I presented (to my pastor) the idea that "turn the other cheek" could be interpreted as an act of defiance, he found it interesting- but would not fully disagree...
there are also cultural differences that make the specific wording more significant... such as striking the right cheek, offer him the other... to strike someone with your left (unclean in that time/culture) hand to strike the other cheek would bring dishonor on the striker... in the same passage, Jesus mentions "if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well." this is also a cultural reference- leaving yourself naked would bring shame upon those that viewed your nakedness... not upon the naked. There's also jewish law from the time that would prevent someone from taking "the shirt off your back" to pay a dept...

I believe that the overall message is one of not seeking vengance, not specifically letting someone beat the crap out of you...