Discussion Questions
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Do you agree with Dr. Blomberg that resisting the injustice of the world with violence is wrong? Why or why not?
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15 Replies
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I do agree. Jesus Christ is our example of how to overcome evil. He stood up and spoke against injustices, He used the word, prayed. To fulfill the 2 commandments Jesus told us to do…loving God and loving others—we must do those things to stand up for righteousness and the injustices in this world.
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If resisting the injustice of the world with violence is the only option available, then I would have to say, “do what you have to do.” Survival was never said to be easy. Animals are violent by nature and God does not judge them accordingly. If government passively ignore and/or neglect human nature and/or human rights, violence can become a norm and appropriate for survival. This would conclude that violence is neither right nor wrong.
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I think that resisting the injustice of the world with violence is trying to overcome evil with more evil. It does not work well for the following reasons:
1. You don’t know all the circumstances and logic that led to what you perceive as injustice. Only God is omnipresent and omniscient, and can judge the case fairly.
2. Being human, you are prone to unrestrained anger (even if you justify it as “righteous anger”). In your anger you may “over-avenge”. Hence, Lamech boasted that he had killed a man for wounding him. He was not remorseful at all, because he wanted revenge to be 77 times more violent than the wound he received (Gen 4:23-24). Only then did he “feel” avenged! That’s why the anger of man never brings about the righteousness of God (James 1:20). Only God can mete out a fair retribution.
3. Even if you claim to have absolute self-control over your anger, you cannot predict whether the violent resistance you organize will proceed beyond hurting to killing. People run out of control in a mob. Who then are the real perpetuators of violence?
4. Few of us are appointed in the world as official judges to execute the law. For the rest of us, our role is to obey the law, especially the law of love (James 2:8). Only God and the official judges are qualified to judge.
5. The minute that you use violence to “right a wrong” against you, you become guilty of violence as much as the person who violated you. Then, instead of God meting vengeance on the other party on your behalf, God has to judge both of you as violent sinners on the last day.
Hence, Paul’s advice (Rom 12:17-21) is to live peaceably as far as it is possible, and not to repay evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good. He does acknowledge the need for vengeance, but says this is God’s role.
#Peter-James
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Well said! When reading this question, I initially recalled the verse do not return evil for evil but return evil for good. Specially, like your reference to James 1:20. ““for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
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Yes, our lives should always reflect the love of Christ. We stand up for Christ’s teachings while setting an example of how Christ stood up to injustices.
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Yes, I believe resisting the injustices of the world with violence is wrong. If we are to be different and not of this world, then we need to show that we are different. We can stand up for what we believe in and fight social injustices, but in a peaceful way that shows respect. We will be more likely to see change happen when we show love and respect even to those we don’t agree with or share a common belief.
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Describe some of the ways in which 1 Peter calls Christians to live godly lives. Then, choose one of these principles and explain how you currently apply it in your life, or how you could apply it in your life going forward.
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13 Replies
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Peter calls for us to be holy, set apart, sensible and suffer well. I don’t suffer well. I tend to blame God and complain. I need to practice to being more humble, think of others more than myself, and be grateful.
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I would like to consider the call to perseverance. Endurance is not always easy. Sometimes life can get right down boring. I choose to stay in the faith and not allow the devil to use me. He tends to get the best of me often, but I keep my eyes on the spiral because I know God is watching over me.
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Peter says we must be holy because the God who called us is holy (1:15-16). We live godly lives by loving our fellow-Christians sincerely (1:22), letting love cover offences against us (4:8), putting away malice and deceit (2:1), and abstaining from sinful desires that wage war against our souls (2:11). In practical ways, we live out godliness in our relationships – whether husband-wife, master-slave, government-citizen, etc. – in which we show a balance of consideration and submission (2:13-18; 3:1-7).
I think Peter’s instructions to husbands to be considerate to their wives, and to wives to be submissive to their husbands (3:1-7), are still relevant to modern life. Although my marriage also encountered conflicts, both of us try to apply the rhythms of constructive communication and active listening, in order to arrive at better empathy and appreciation of each other’s needs, values, and points of views. We try to model this as best as we can, in mentoring couples under the ministry of Bridging Hearts.
#Peter
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We are to treat our wives with respect. I attempt to honor my wife and do things to make her know that she is cared for.
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1 Peter calls us to be holy, caring for the poor and needy, submitting to our elders and those in authority over us, but also to treat each other with respect if we have authority over another. I want to live a life that cares for others.