I read Ghandi's bio and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but he was wrong with this one--if he thought that the Bible was talking about retribution. It wouldn’t surprise me if he did misunderstand the meaning of the verse. Many people think that "money is the root of all evil" (when there’s no such verse in the Bible). Neither is there any verse that tells that we should take the law into our own hands. This is about restitution, not retribution, and it comes from Israel’s civil law:
"If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe" (Exodus 21:22-25)
Notice that God’s Word speaks of a woman being "with child." It is a human life within the womb, and if that child was harmed the judges were to impose an appropriate penalty. The criminal was to make amends for his crime.
In other words, if someone steals and totals your car, he has to replace it. Whatever he takes, he replaces--an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth . . . a life for a life. That’s simple common sense. It is not an admonition to punch someone in the eye or knock out his tooth, if he offends you.
However, the religious leaders of the time of Christ had twisted the Law and used it to take personal vengeance. This is why Jesus said "You have heard that it was said," rather than His often said "It is written [in Scripture]":
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also" (Matthew 5:38-40).
If someone does an Atheist an injustice, he should not take the law into his own hands. He has the option to take him to court. The Christian, however, lives by a higher Law. If you do him wrong, he shouldn’t take you to court. He should rather show love and forgiveness, not because he’s a wimp, but because he has a better law by which he lives:
"If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink . . .'" (Romans 12:18-20).
This is what Jesus did. When He was on the cross suffering for the sin of the world, He cried, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." When the mocking Roman soldiers spat on Him and beat him, He gave Himself over to them: "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him [God] that judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23).
Thursday, March 18, 2010
