Turning the other cheek..

Depends on how it's done. It also depends on what you mean by "worked for you". I don't figure it's really about me as much as it is the other guy and the kingdom.

I don't think Jesus intended for us to lose sight of all reason or to be a perpetual doormat, but there is merit in not answering back all the time or answering back with kindness. It often causes a pause in the other guy - while he's trying to figure you out and understand what happened and why you won't be drawn into his struggle.

What I mean is "worked" in terms of what goes around comes around.

Like the Universe is supposed to send back to you when you do that. It hasn't worked.

When you are "nice" it's perceived as weakness and stupidity.

I got turned down for a promotion once, my boss told me I was just "too nice."

That kind of thing. The nicer you are, the more people will take advantage of you.

You've done it since the day you were born.

Didn't you know?

Again, it depends on how it's done. It's hard to determine without knowing or observing you.

As far as what comes around goes around - I can tell you that's true. It EVENTUALLY will.

One thing to keep in mind - Jesus was no pansy. There is such a thing as righteous anger, and it is good and okay to carry oneself like a man. Just stay in prayer and the Word. Pray before you get in the Word...like a lot. Make sure you're really walking in the Spirit. This will do a few things:

1. Keep you focused on what's important - God and others and the kingdom.

2. Refine your behavior to match correct priorities

3. Possibly change the spirit of your actions - which will inevitably cause people to notice and change the spirit of their actions around you.

4. Give you peace because of your more "in tune" relationship with God.

Also, if you are surrounded by people that are unkind to you...that's something you should look at critically. Is it a "them" issue or a "you" issue or just the situation. The only reason this matters (not for throwing a self-pity party) is that it affects the way you pray about the matter. Do you need to have your heart changed, or do these people need revelation or both...that sort of thing. Definitely pray for the people who are giving you the blues.

I had a incident a few days ago and so I'll relate it here.

I was with My Wife at a Walmart and was waiting in the Truck for Her to come out of the Store. As I was sitting there I had some Kids around the back of the Truck monkeying around.

I thought to Myself, "I better move the Truck just in case" and so I did. As I'm pulling away from where I was parked a Man and His wife are walking across the road to My left as I'm going by Them.

Well I guess I scared Her (The Guy's Wife) and She screamed something at Me and then wacked My rear Driver's side quarter panel. I pull up short as I heard Her yell and then a noise at My rear. I almost had a Heart Attack too as I thought "Oh Crap, I've hit someone."

By the Time I get out of My Truck They're walking into the Store so I say before They go in the door, "Is everything alright - Hello ??? Is everything alright ?"

This Guy turns on His heel likely thinking He now has a problem with Me and I repeat "Is everything alright". He says "You scared Her" whereas I reply...

"My Apolgies, that was not My intention"

You should have seen the look on His face as I'm pretty sure He was getting ready for Us to rumble, but that said, He was deflated Immediately.

I mean It was priceless seeing this Guy have His Baddest Ass response all ready and then to see His mouth move like He didn't know what to say stating weakly, "No Problem Man - You have a good Night..."

I was stunned. I'll likely do it again as It totally worked and was very Enlightening to say the least...

OK, it's time for "righteous anger." Don't you think?

Smashing tables?

If there is ONE overriding message of the bible it's the forbidding of usury.

Anyone who hasn't gotten that message by now, is evolutionarily unfit to contribute any longer to the gene pool.

It's LOUD AND CLEAR.

OVER AND OVER AND OVER.

And President Bush reads the Bible?? LOL! ROFLMAO!

What is his reading comprehension level??

Wow, that's something. Amazing the power words can have isn't it?

Well (In My most sincere G.W. Bush Voice), I believe Hes scanificating the Bible so He can rememberify to the point where He will be able to talkificate on the Subject...

Yeah - It was - Two Years ago I'd have cleaned the lot with this Guy but It just isn't in Me anymore to be the Badass I once was.

My Heart has changed. I'm still Heck in a Hand basket when provoked though, its just that the old provocations do not move Me like They did long ago...

Nowadays, I save all My Ire for the BBB&Gs...

Ah. Okay, OP. I thought you were really looking for something you could use in your personal life. I didn't realize you had a different angle.

Peace.

That's a great story, Mercuriel. Awesome illustration.

It's funny how a kind word turns away wrath.

I'm pretty much covering all the angles here. Micro/Macro economics.

Psalms 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Proverbs 12:16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

SINFUL VS. RIGHTEOUS ANGER

[link to cnview.com]

1 Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

More Righteous Anger
Matt 21:12-13 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

This sounds like an "angry" Christ to me. How can you wreck a temple and kick people out, "in love"?

Matt 3:7-8 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Sounds like an "angry" John the Baptist to me. You gonna call people "snakes in the grass" in love?

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

In the New Testament the words "wrath" and "anger" are synonymous. (equivalent)

Example
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Anger is "what we are". Wrath is "what we do" because of that anger. We can be angry and not sin. We can also be angry and sin in "righteous anger" if we harbor grudges because of anger, regardless of what kind of anger it is. The apostle is saying that if you are angry, be sure it is the kind of anger that is not sinful. Let not the sun go down. Even a righteous wrath by overindulgence (excess) may pass all too easily into sin if we give in to the devil.

Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.
Place—give in, give opportunity-give an opening

Even in our righteous anger we should forgive.

2 Cor 2:10-11 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Satan tries to take advantage of every opportunity, even righteous judgment and righteous anger, to lead us into sin. (Disobedience to God)

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

We can overcome Satan’s tricks by being strong "in the Lord". We have no strength "of our own". Righteous anger or not, we "must not" let it wreck vengeance on others.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Whenever "teaching " the doctrine of Christ and "reproving" disobedience to that doctrine and "exhorting" (advise strongly, urge earnestly, caution, warn) results in defensive maneuvering in the form of accusations, complaints, slurs, insinuations and faultfinding, then righteous anger should be expected.

Are we told to exhort "so-so" in a nonchalant (unconcerned, uncaring, calm, casual) manner? NO! We are told to advise "strongly" (firm, rigid, unmoving) and urge "earnestly" (seriously, gravely, sternly) Obedience to God’s Word is serious business to Him, AND it should be to us.

Eph 5:6-8 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

It relates to spiritualism, light magnetism from one side of the hour glass to the other. The concept of turning the other cheek is asking you to stay positive, spin the opposite direction, elevate above your adversaries without lifting a finger.

Which side of the hour glass do you wanna be on when we hit zero point? Let go of everything bar love because thats all we need

it works everyTIME!

Why not just bend over?

Meekness and weakness are two different things. Turning the other cheek doesn't mean letting people walk all over you, it just means not to pursue revenge.

Besides, there's a kind of satisfaction in watching someone trying to figure out why I don't lash back. If they figure it out and follow my example, so much the better.