Are there times when we need to push back and set limits?! Suffering for the gospel of Christ is a spiritual mandate indeed! Suffering at the hands of obnoxious people in order that they can exert perceived power and be abusive is not what anyone is commanded to tolerate! Suffering abuse and evil in people's hearts for evils sake is not a spiritual mandate of Christ! We as children of God all deserve honor! Suffering physical, sexual and emotional abuse should never be tolerated! As these are not faith issues! Scripture never requires us to be wash rags! On the contrary, we are told to be strong! Indeed, there are times when personal boundries must be maintained! TR The world is filled with obnoxious people! I don't have to suck face with them! TR Suffering for the gospel of Christ is a spiritual mandate indeed! Suffering at the hands of obnoxious people in order that they can exert perceived power and be abusive is not what anyone is commanded to tolerate! This is a topic worth exploring. I have contemplated it a number of times over the years, as well. My comments should not be taken as disagreeing with the premise that there have to be boundaries, only that they are meant to discuss the options. But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39 If our Founders had adopted a passive attitude toward government abuses, we would never have achieved independence. Yet they were not advocating lawlessness; instead, they wanted justice and fairness to be established as the law of the land and for justice to be administered by duly appointed (elected) representatives. 3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? 4 The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 5 The Lord trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Psalm 11:3-7 What do we do when the institutions set up to protect us become oppressive and ungodly? We are not given instructions on how to overthrow those in power. If you are in a position where you can exercise your rights, then by all means do so. Unfortunately, the situation can become so bad in places that acting defensively is the only option left available. Again, I have long wrestled with this question. Not so much politically, but on a personal level! No doubt we are called to turn the other cheek, when it lifts our witness of Christ! And times when we must walk with personal integrity! Not every Christian should be expected to be a milk toast! TR Or so it seems to me! Indeed there are times when we pray for the Lord's strength and endurance as we suffer life's slings and arrows! And times as spiritual warriors we pray that our enemies be humbled! IMHO TR
