A quick write on "Turn the other cheek"

Hey there, we talked about this passage of the Bible dealing with turning the other cheek at the last Stuart Initiative. We wanted to know what the background was as far as culture, context, and figurative interpretation of what Jesus was saying. Here is what I found out after studying it a bit more.

Here is the scripture:
38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. 40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles. 42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
-Matthew 5:38-42

Here is what this seems to mean when looked at through the culture of the time.

A figurative interpretation relies on historical and other factors. At the time of Jesus, striking someone deemed to be of a lower class with the back of the hand was used to assert authority and dominance. If the persecuted person "turned the other cheek," the discipliner was faced with a dilemma. The left hand was used for unclean purposes, so a back-hand strike on the opposite cheek would not be performed. The other alternative would be a slap with the open hand as a challenge or to punch the person, but this was seen as a statement of equality. Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was in effect demanding equality. By handing over one's cloak in addition to one's tunic, the debtor has essentially given the shirt off their back, a situation directly forbidden by Jewish Law as stated here:

When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge. You shall remain outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.
-Deuteronomy 24: 10-13:

By giving the lender the cloak as well the debtor was reduced to nakedness. Public nudity was viewed as bringing shame on the viewer, not the naked, as evidenced here:

Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
Genesis 9: 20-27

The succeeding verse from the Sermon on the Mount can similarly be seen as a method for making the oppressor break the law. The commonly invoked Roman law of Angaria allowed the Roman authorities to demand that inhabitants of occupied territories carry messages and equipment the distance of one mile post, but prohibited forcing an individual to go further than a single mile, at the risk of suffering disciplinary actions. In this example, the nonviolent interpretation sees Jesus as placing criticism on an unjust and hated Roman law as well as clarifying the teaching to extend beyond Jewish law. As a side effect this may also have afforded the early followers a longer time to missionary to the soldier and or cause the soldier not to seek followers of Jesus to carry his equipment in the future so as not to be bothered with their proselytizing.

CH 18 - Love part 1

Chapters 18 and 19 talk about loving others and loving ourselves. On Monday we talked about loving others and how we live that out. What are some cause that keep us from showing love in certain situations and what does love really look like. Our culture provides us with all kinds of expectations and figurative explanations about what our love should look like, but what does Jesus have to say about unconditional love towards others ...and what about the intolerance issues and the hatred issues that surround us every day?

Here are some questions that we used to stimulate our discussion :

1. How important is it to God that we love each other?
2. What are some practical ways we can love other people (and not just those "in church")?
3. What are some connections you have with people who are not in a relationship with Jesus? What are some things you have in common?
4. Talk about an experience you have had with being either accepted or rejected.
5. Why are some Christ-followers threatened by people who are not Christ-followers?
6. How do we use love like money?
7. How have you seen this (using love like money) be destructive in relationships?

We had our baby late Sunday night!

Sooooo... we were going to talk about "Loving others" this week...but we were in the hospital for a few days because we had our baby.
We named him Seth Avery. 7lbs. 14oz. ... 20 1/2" long.


We had a kind of different night planned for this week but we will try to start the development conversation next week and then maybe resume the idea in a few weeks.
We really missed getting together with you guys last night...but we will see you very soon.

CH. 16 - MONEY

Alright so we talked about money last night. I think Don does a really good job of presenting this idea of tithing in ch - 16. He told of many experiences he has had in dealing with money and trying to make ends meet as a writer. This chapter came to a climax at the end surrounding a talk he had with Rick, the pastor of Imago De, where Don attends. The conversation that Rick had with Don about the concept of tithing was presented well.
Last night we talked about how tithing is one of the most important signs that you are bought into your relationship with God and what he is doing at your church. Tithing is way more about obedience then it is about God needing your money. God doesn't need our money but in order for us to be directed by God we need to maintain a consistent amount of obedience in our lives. There is a saying that says more or less, your heart is where your money is. This means that you will be more likely to put your money into things that are close to your heart...things that you value...things that you see as being important. God has set up church to reach people with God's love. Churches need to be places where there is an atmosphere that promotes Jesus and who is. Money provides churches many ways to accomplish these service oriented things. Money can be put directly towards things that promote a Christ cantered life.
But... when a church receives money form it's partners is has a huge responsibility to use those funds how God desires them to be used. God provides money for people to put into his work (which can take many forms but it will always point people directly to God) and churches need to use that money to further Gods work.

• We talked about the passage in the bible talks about God challenge to us concerning money. It is in Malachi 3...here is a link to that passage.
• Check out this passage as well it talks about the commitment God's people made after they decided to follow God with their lives.
• Also we talked about having the correct attitude when giving to God...here is a link that talks about that.
  Also Dave talked (here is a link to his talk handout) about this scripture on the attitude of giving.
  Here is one the references he used.
  
• Here are some things Jesus had to say about tithing.
  Mathew 23
  Luke 21