why is it?

Question

why is it the people who are not Christians believe that we should all turn the other cheek. we are human if you insult me my family or my religion i get defensive. that does not make me any less of a believer it just makes me human. i believe in God but i am not God i am not perfect or unfailing. i make mistakes sometimes the devil will take over my tongue and let hurtful nasty things come out I pray and try hard to overcome my weakness, but I am not perfect, no one is!

Answer 1

I think that means, u should be more patient and more forgiving but u dont have to forget tho...We just need to learn to be more patient is all i can say. Of course, if people insult u or ur family or your religion you get defensive in a heart beat, i guess everyone can be doesnt matter if you are christian or muslim or jewish. but what if u defense with asking why they r insulting in a good way, maybe it would work on those people. Coz i know hate vs hate doesnt give anything to both sides but just bad things. Regards...

Answer 2

You need to pick and choose your fights (verbal or otherwise); some fights are worth it, and others are not.

When someone insults your religion, that's an example of a fight that is *not* worth it. You can't actually accomplish anything other than getting yourself (and the other person) even more upset.

The desire to fight about those things seems, to me, to come from the same savage instinct that drives the desire for revenge. It makes plenty of sense if you're a hairy, non-sentient ape fighting with another hairy, non-sentient ape over territory or something.

But we're not just a bunch of hairy apes; we're humans. We're better than that. You, as a human, have the ability to think as well as the ability to feel. While you may often *feel* insulted or upset, you should not determine your course of action by that feeling alone; you should think about what you actually hope to accomplish first. You can avoid a lot of pointless, petty struggles that way. And you'll gain the respect of others; being able to avoid foolish things like that is a sign of maturity and intelligence.

It has nothing to do with the devil controlling your tongue - everything you say is your own responsibility, regardless of the "flawed" human condition. When you accept that responsibility, you can then make yourself a better person.
No one's "perfect", but that's irrelevent; you still have plenty of room for improvement, in terms of reaching your full potential. It's your responsibility to realize that potential.

And, in case you're wondering, i'm an atheist.

Answer 3

i know what you mean, alot of people who are not professing Christians behave badly to people they think are Christians, hoping to catch them not turning the other cheek. If you want to behave kindly, you try to ignore the abuse, then they laugh and turn up the volume, get more abusive. If you try to stand up to them and say you don't want them to behave this way, they say you are not being Christian. With these people, I never said I was Christian at all, though I was trying to be, though I'm not sure how they knew that. They abused me to the point I burnt out on the job I was in, working for them, then they blacklisted me so I could never get a job again in that (legal conveyancing) field, or in any secretarial field in which I listed them as my last secretarial employer. I feel like they had more issues with God than I had or have - they were trying so hard to shake up people they thought were Christian - what was with that? It changed my life, I could no longer get a good secretarial job, as it looked odd, omitting them from my resume, as I worked for them 3 years. They were so bitter and cynical. I never did them one wrong, I worked so much unpaid overtime for them, so much extra effort, while their other 2 secretaries goofed off and did nothing but talk on the phone to their family, friends, renovator, etc. It taught me that it takes all kinds, and turning the other cheek doesn't change anybody, it just makes you feel you tried to do what you were supposed to be, not be nasty right back.

Answer 4

They are hypocrits and defensive. They feel vulnerable by who or what God is and feel the need to discount your faith and put you down. As hard as it is all you can do is turn the other cheek because its a waste of time trying to defend yourself and your faith to people so closed minded and blind. Worry about your soul and the souls you love and find a much better time in this sometimes cruel world. Worrying about what doesnt matter weighs you down instead of concentrating on what really counts, your faith in God. God chooses who's in and who's out so let God worry about them and you'll find yourself much happier.

Answer 5

Because Christians seem to be the first ones to try to tell everyone else, especially non-Christians, how they should live and what they should believe as if the only right and perfect people are Christians. You can't have it both ways.

Answer 6

I totally understand you. And I know it's hard, but as Christians we need to keep our testimony pure. The Bible says to turn the other cheek, so that's what we must do. The world will always be ready to judge, hypocrite is one of the first things they'll call us, but that should be nothing to us. We shouldn't care what they think....after all, they're non-believers......who's the one going to Heaven to be w/ Christ in the end? I know I am. And I hope to see you there. =)

Answer 7

I know that, and it's cool. Unfortunately, there are a relative few very vocal Christians who try telling the rest of us how to live and act as if they are perfect, or at least miles better than us. If I'm one of those who have hurt your feelings, I'm sorry. I try not to say things like that.

Answer 8

Yes, but if we are followers of Jesus Christ, we need to remember the admonition He has given us. He told us not to return evil for evil. I agree that our "flesh" rises up quickly if someone insults us (very, very quickly for me), but it's not my intention to stay the same kind of person I am. I want God to work in me, to make me more into the "image" of His son, which is what the bible tells me He wants to do.

I also like myself more when I don't get "hooked" by someone's rude or insulting behavior. I don't have to ask God to forgive me if I hold my tongue instead of giving free rein to it!

Answer 9

I don't think the Devil makes you say anything. You need to take responsibility for your own actions.

Answer 10

because we follow the teachings of Jesus, people think we should do things the same as Him. forgetting that we are human. but one thing we have they don't is the heart to ask for forgiveness.