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Matthew 5:38-42 contains, what is to me personally, one of the most challenging instructions in the New Testament. From the King James Version:

³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. ³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. ⁴¹ And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ⁴² Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Bible quote courtesy of Bible Gateway.

This is not very American. You hurt us, we’ll put a boot in your ass. It feels good to imagine getting even. To talk about it and brag about it and fashion a national identity out of it. But when all the high-fiving is done, does it actually feel good to get even?

Not to a Christian, it doesn’t. Not only do we feel a vague emptiness inside, but we also know that it’s a missed opportunity for God to work miracles through us.

Let’s start with an extreme example: the Hamas murder and kidnapping of Jews in October of 2023. Surely an act as barbaric and as that is an exception to the instruction of Jesus. Surely violent retaliation is warranted in this case, right? It would certainly appear so. But examining the results of Israel’s retaliation, I wonder. As justified as the retaliation appeared, what has been the result?

Photo courtesy of AP

In spite of how justified the retaliation may have seemed, I doubt that’s what any of the victims of the initial attack would have wanted: to see even more innocents killed and their loved ones devastated.

A similar point can be made about America’s invasion of Iraq. Justified? Of course! 9-11 and all. The Christian thing to do? No, not in my humble opinion. And judging by the results, not so smart by the standards of real-world politics either, since Iraq was the only thing keeping Iran in check. A country which, in case you have not been following the dots, is a major supporter and supplier of Hamas.

The same can be said about our well-intentioned but misguided struggle about abortion. Not only has it merely resulted in temporary victories for one side or the other that are soon, or will soon be, overturned at the next election. Not only has led us farther and farther apart from each other. It has also led many away from the treasures of Christianity.

So the best I can do with these big issues is to avoid jumping to a convenient but mistaken conclusion, not look away, and focus on the things that I can actually do something about.

Now, I do not believe that the instructions of Jesus captured in Matthew require us to be locked into toxic relationships. Those hollow out the soul and leave no room for God. So they are inherently evil.

But outside of those, I believe there is a lot of room to practice not resisting evil. The evil right in front of me today is the political division that has been sowed across our country. How do I respond to what I believe are lies and manipulations being recited by a friend, family member, or neighbor? How do I respond to lifestyle choices that feel like an affront to my faith?

On the one hand, Scripture does tell us to reproach and correct each other. Luke 17:3-4:

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

But Romans 14:1-23 rounds out our guidance:

“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Bible quotes courtesy of OpenBible.

So we are instructed to, on the one hand, reproach, but on the other forgive and tolerate. Which to apply when? Personally, I can’t know unless I pray about it. Not only because my erstwhile intellectual mind will make a Gordian Knot out an ethical dilemma such as this one, but because that constant communication with God is, as I understand it, a major point of being a Christian. “Pray without ceasing,” right?

Nevertheless, these are instructions for interacting with fellow Christians. But what about interacting with someone who is not a part of our Christian community?

Jesus tells us not to condemn or cancel that person, but to walk with them a mile. Two, actually. So the Christian thing to do in these situations is not to argue, condemn, or even try to correct the other person’s opinion. But to spend time with them. I’ve had good results with this approach lately by simply waiting for an opportunity to change the subject, then talking about something that is not divisive. Not sure how many of you remember, but before social media, that used to be the way people naturally interacted: by seeking what they had in common. “Are you a Yankees fan, too?” It resulted in joy and camaraderie.

Is this reluctance to argue a point the right thing to do ethically, politically, as a citizen of a democracy? I used to think not, but I have changed my mind. Because it has not borne good fruit. And the fruit an approach bears is how Matthew, in 7:15-20, tells us to judge false teachers:

¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Bible quotes courtesy of OpenBible.

So yeah, even the most brilliantly crafted arguments have not born good fruit in our current environment. They have only resulted in further hardening of hearts. Which leaves even less room for God. So perhaps “resisting not evil” will bear fruit. Perhaps it will soften our hearts toward each other. Lead to a little joy and camaraderie. To acceptance of our differences. And a little more room for God.