Do Not Take Revenge

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17–21, NIV 1984).

My Musings – It seems that a significant number of movies and tv shows that attract large numbers of views are about seeking revenge. Repaying “evil for evil.” Even those where the protagonist initially attempts to “do what is right,” to “not take revenge,” and to “overcome evil with good” they seem “forced” in the end to resort to violence. Which begs the question, is it ever “possible, as far as it depends on you, [to] live at peace with everyone,” even those who persist in harming us? Yet this is exactly what our Savior did. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment, He was taken away.” (Isaiah 53:7–8, NIV 1984).

My Advice – I get it. Sometimes, it is hard “if [our] enemy is hungry, [to] feed him; if he is thirsty, [to] give him something to drink.” But the question we must ask ourselves, if “[we are to become] imitators of [Paul] and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering,” (1 Thessalonians 1:6, NIV 1984), if we are to “deny [ourselves] and take up [our] cross and follow [Jesus] (Matthew 16:24, NIV 1984), what should we do?

In the final analysis “as far as it depends on [us],” how we choose to respond, whenever “peace with [our antagonist]” is not “possible” because they continue to do us evil, “not [taking] revenge” is still an option for us. “[We] can do everything [even this] through Him who gives [us] strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NIV 1984). But only through His strength. My sense is that we will face this more and more as the days become more evil.