I believe divine discernment is needed to know when to turn the other cheek as opposed to being the devil's doormat! We are told that we wrestle not with flesh and blood, nor are we to cast our Pearl's before swine as even swine can be possessed by the enemy! The whole premise of spiritual warfare and taking of territory from the enemy is also a Godly principle! We are not to yield physical swords, but swords of the spirit! Aquiessining to all manner of violence for violence sake is never taught! Seemingly abbrogating personal rights situationally is what is intended by the command to turn the other cheek! What say you??? TR I agree … if we do share the Gospel and people reject it … just shake the dust off your feet and move on … God doesn’t expect us to have fellowship with those who mock and ridicule our faith and neither does He want us to become a doormat to them. I’ve encountered a small handful of people who didn’t want the Good News … one was a cashier at Walmart. She took the Bible Tract and said I don’t want this I’m a Jehovah Witness and was going to toss it in the trash can under the counter and I said oh then let me have that back and extended my hand … because someone else will certainly treasure this Good News. Her jaw dropped … she expected me to argue with her and carry but I remained silent. I didn’t even wish her a good day because the Bible says not to. II John 2:10 Even for believers who do not receive Godly council and continue in blatant sin are to be shunned by the church! The Amish practice “shunning”! TR I think we need to be careful. I work with a street ministry feeding the homeless and sharing the gospel. I have seen some very hostile people come up and practically scream at us. One woman screamed at us and was overtly hostile and potentially violent. We just showed love and prayed for her after she left. The next time we saw her, she looked embarrassed and walked right by. We prayed again. The next time after that, she asked for prayer and we prayed together. God never gives up on us and the unsaved. Don't be so quick to give up on others, either. Romans 5:8 New King James Version 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 New King James Version 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Geri, I think it was good that you told her "then let me have that back . . . because someone else will certainly treasure this Good News." She probably was surprised to know that others would welcome the tract telling them of God's good news. It will surely make her think.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
