True. I don't think Lot's behavior in offering his two daughters was correct - or meek.
Turning the other cheek must have a context - and it doesn't seem to be something literal, or something applicable to all circumstances, for when Christ was slapped in the face at His trial, He didn't turn the other cheek but said instead, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?"

i find it intriguing that almost immediately the topic turned to protecting ourself instead of studying Christs meekness.

i would think we already had self and self-preservation down to an artform.

ahhhh! the light is dawning!! it looks like i have developed a different picture of what turning the other cheek means than, apparently, others have developed.

for me, Jesus did turn the other cheek. pointing out abuse is not being retaliatory. of course it didnt do Him much good. they wanted to shut Him up so bad they didnt care what they did to Him.

i think Jesus was very strong in allowing others to mistreat Him over and over - and loved them still. still spent hours in prayer to reach out to any and all, to heal those who would never thank Him...

I don't understand your comment. Are you surprised someone would observe on this thread that turning the other cheek means keeping our eyes on Jesus?

In what sense do you think refusing to offer my daughter to be raped after the bad guy is done raping my wife is an art form of self and self-preservation?

True. Your definition is only one of several available. Context determines which definition applies.


Yes, we could say Jesus was very strong. We could also say Jesus was very loving.

There are times when God's strength is displayed by NOT allowing mistreatment. And He will love both the mistreated and the mistreater.

Love will dictate what God will do - whether to allow mistreatment or prevent it.

There is a masochistic concept of meekness. But that's not what God has in mind.

If someone comes to rape my wife, I will definitely have a few words with the bad guy. And I guarantee that one of us will be incapacitated by the time the conversation is over. If he does finish with my wife, I will be in no condition to offer my daughter.

I love my wife and daughter too much to let someone do that to them, and I love the bad guy too much to let him do that to himself.

im interested to know other definitions that would apply in Jesus life here on earth. "Was Jesus Weak for Turning the Other Cheek?" (i didnt mean for it to rhyme, it just turned out that way. )

we are told that Jesus life here on earth is our example so studying His life, i would think, would cover all the bases.

i mean, that His life would show what turning the other cheek is and is not.

would you agree or disagree?

we are told that Jesus life here on earth is our example so studying His life, i would think, would cover all the bases.

i mean, that His life would show what turning the other cheek is and is not.

would you agree or disagree?

Pardon my jumping in, but what conclusions have we reached so far?
Turning the other cheek shouldn’t be taken in the literal sense, but in the figurative sense of not retaliating, for when Christ was slapped in the face at His trial, He didn't physically turn the other cheek, but pointed out abuse. As you said, pointing out abuse is not being retaliatory. Now, MM is just analyzing a situation which goes one step further. Instead of simply pointing out abuse, he is analyzing the question of preventing abuse. So the question is, Being meek, or turning the other cheek, means you must let abuse happen? How can this question be answered on the basis of Christ’s life?

i dont know. im up for trying it out, by the grace of God. unfortunately, being altogether too human, i hope i remember. it doesnt necessarily mean actually being hit...it can apply to something else. either way im up for it.

i remember reading one particular book about a russian police officer who routinely, with others, hunted down the christians in the woods. he related an event where an old woman was being hit. she prayed out loud, Father, forgive them. he felt someone grab his arm, tho no one did, as he was about to hit her again. eventually he was converted.

another story is of a man who would be raking his lawn or whatever and certain individuals would come along and push him down and taunt him. he just got back up and kept on what he was doing. it ended up impressing the taunters so much they stopped.

ive read many such stories.

so my question would be, where does trust in God play into this?