Seventy times Seven

Before we get started, please read my previous article, here; How we know the New Testament is reliable, and be sure to check out my latest on Locals; The weirdest pets I've owned

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven”. (Matthew 18:21-22). Now, I think some people may think that this means they can be jerks to Christians. Well, no. “Oh, but, Christians, doesn't Jesus say “But I say to you, DO not resist the one who is evil. But, if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also”. (Matthew 5:39)? Okay, but, see, where does that give YOU permission to treat other people like a jerk? Where does that give YOU the right to walk over Christians? Christians can use self defense (and have quite the history of it;Self-Defense and Firearms). So, if we can defend ourselves with the use our force, to preserve our own lives, I'm pretty sure that we can use our voice to defend ourselves from malicious gossip. Turning the other cheek doesn't mean being a pushover. And, as for the Christian suffering persecution, suffering violence, and may have no other choice but to use force or your voice, remember this, “You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy”. But I say to you, Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you”. (Matthew 5:43-44). And we will talk about that concept, in a different article. Spoiler; it still doesn't mean being a doormat. Forgiveness doesn't mean tolerating injustice. It may be mean surviving it, but it doesn't tolerating it.

*All verses from ESV Catholic Edition with Deuterocanonical Books, Copyright 2017 by Crossway.

Adam Charles Hovey is the founder of the Catholicism, News, and whatever community on Locals and is the host of the former weekly Bible study, Coffee and Christianity