Post No. 46: "Turn the Other Cheek"

Jesus’ Radical Message

What is more important, “If someone hurts you, hurt them back” or “Treat others the way you want to be treated”.  In my role as a counselor I sometimes asked my teenage clients this question, and their answers were mixed.  Perhaps it is because there is truth in both.

In an anarchic world, where there is no enforcement of laws to protect individuals, the first admonition can be a reasonable response.  A teenager in a violent neighborhood may feel that they need to always fight back if they are not to be take advantage of.  But there are few places on earth that are truly anarchic.  Every society has laws and ways of enforcing these laws to protect individuals.

Jesus did not opine on this subject.  But he did have a radical message to individuals on how to treat one another.  He said “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth’.  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.  If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the the other cheek also.”  He told his disciples to go the extra mile to help one another.  Perhaps, even more radical, he suggests this applies to everyone universally; to enemies, friends, families, old, young, poor, wealthy, sinners and saints.

Proportional Justice vs Radical Forgiveness

As many people know, Jesus was Jewish and well versed in Jewish thought. The Old Testament admonition of taking an “eye for an eye” is related more to societal and legal justice, although it was unclear if it applied to individual behavior.  Its intent was to stop disproportionate retribution or revenge.  There are many examples of proportional justice in the Old Testament, in particular in Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Jesus used dramatic language to guide individual behavior emphasizing  love and compassion, rather than legal retribution or revenge.  This idea was not new and there are many passages both in the Old Testament, and later in the Koran and Hadith, echoing the idea of love of neighbor.  Jesus' message stands out for its unequivocal universality, transcending cultural or communal boundaries. Yet the Christian religion that emerged from Jesus’ teachings often struggled to match this “unequivocal universality” of loving one’s neighbor as oneself.

The Illusion of Separateness

How did Jesus arrive at this radical message? The message of loving everyone in the same way one loves oneself, to treat everyone just like you would like to be treated, to go the extra mile to help others in the way you would like to be helped?

At its core, his teaching seems rooted in a profound insight: the sense of separateness we feel from others is an illusion. As newborns, we lack this sense of division, experiencing the world as one with ourselves. Only as we grow do we develop the concept of a separate “self” to protect and prioritize - evident in a toddler’s cry of “mine!” Yet, spiritual traditions, science and modern psychology suggest this separation is a construct of the mind, not reality. Several of my blog posts have attempted to describe how non-separation is true from various perspectives (See martinsblogs.com posts numbers 7, 8, 11 and 26).  Somehow the person Jesus embodied the idea of non-separation or oneness with every pore in his body.  He lived it and his disciples followed him.  In the words of a “famous” poem about Jesus:

He saw into our nature

The good, the bad and ugly

The slave, the sinner and saint

All existing without taint

It baffles the mind

How can this be?

Jesus just lived it

So all could see.

He saw we’re not separate

One from another

It’s only human minds

That create distinct kinds

A person of faith does not need a reason to explain Jesus’ radical message.  It is a divine message.

Individual vs. Nation State Behavior

Jesus’ message of compassion was directed at individuals, but what about nation-states? Leaders of great powers face complex decisions where “turning the other cheek” could risk national security. Yet, wisdom tempered with compassion can break cycles of violence. After World War II, the United States’ aid to Germany and Japan through the Marshall Plan and reconstruction efforts fostered peace and prosperity, reflecting a compassionate approach. In contrast, the punitive treatment of Germany after World War I fueled resentment and conflict, showing the limits of proportionate justice without compassion.

When the focus is on proportionate justice, then a cycle of violence continues.  What one side considers proportionate, the other side considers disproportionate.  Perhaps Jesus would counsel wisdom with a large dash of compassion.  Without compassion, bad things happen, for individuals and nations.  The violence in Gaza is an example.  The answer is common sense, wisdom and compassion.

There are no easy answers, but common sense often points a way.  We all have our opinions about individual and nation state behavior.  As I look back on some decisions I’ve made in my own life, I can see that a balance of compassion and justice might have resulted in better outcomes. I hope this post helps all of us envision more creative and compassionate responses, both in our personal lives and the life of our nation.