Pay Back

“We know God has said, `I am the one who will punish people. I will repay them.' Also,`The Lord will judge his people.’” Hebrews 10:30 has been  used to prove that God will be our henchman – as if we are more precious than our enemies. The question is how does God repay evil? Keep that question in the back of your mind for now...

We’ve all experienced emotions such as revenge, resentment and shame because we are human and we are broken. Author, Pia Mellody describes resentment and how it contributes to our fallen nature, “Forgiving a person who has hurt me means that I give up the need for revenge or punishment so that I can feel good inside myself. It doesn’t mean that I must keep the person in my life constantly battling to protect myself and being hurt in the process. It doesn’t mean I approve of the person’s actions. It means I simply acknowledge my feelings, stop replaying the event in my mind, and give up the idea of revenge or punishment.” - Facing Codependence p. 50

Since God is forgiveness and love personified then is it safe to say He is not dysfunctional? Is it safe to say that it is impossible for God to experience resentment, shame and revenge?  Dumb questions maybe, but there are countless Christians running around preaching a gospel that paints God precisely this way!

Romans 12 summarizes healthy behavior in relation to enemies or offenders:

Love

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, aithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.Do not be conceited.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. "

How does the Lord pay back our enemies? How does He pay us back when we are the enemy?

"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."

God asks us to overcome evil with good so it stands to reason He will use those same methods. This is why it is essential that we come to know God's character! By knowing Him, we come to know ourselves and others better. Defenses are laid aside and hate and revenge are replaced with gentleness and compassion.  We will no longer need to punish our enemies to feel better about ourselves for our worth or esteem is no longer other-centered but God-centered.

What will you do today with this knowledge?

-S.N. Bemonte  2008