Is Seeking Revenge a Christian Value?

Is seeking revenge a Christian Value? Is it ok for a Christian to seek revenge? Is it ok for Christian leaders to advocate revenge? It all boils down to the question is Revenge EVER justified in a Christian’s life?

I bring this up because as I sit here today, I see headline after headline about how our President is seeking to get revenge on his political opponents. He makes no bones about it, he wats revenge and retribution against anyone and everyone who he feels has wronged him. That’s his right as an American to want that, my thoughts are but wait he claims to be a Christian. He’s been endorsed by almost every major evangelical church leader in America. He has a “council of ministers” who supposedly advise him on matters of spirituality. His legions of followers claim he’s a Christian, almost every Republican senator and member of the house claim to be Christians and that he’s a Christian. So, my question is, have any of them ever tried to dissuade him from his policy of seeking revenge? It doesn’t seem so, but maybe there’s something in the Bible or the teaching of Jesus that says revenge is ok. That revenge is something we should all seek.

Is Revenge Ever Justified?

Sincemany conservatives claim that they live by what is in the bible, I thought I’d start there, and that I’d start in their favorite book of what offends God. So I went to the book of Leviticus 19:18 where I found that it turns out that taking revenge is expressly forbidden by God “You shall not take vengeance, nor hold any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”

Yeah, but that’s old Testament, but that last line, love your neighbor as yourself, I’ve heard that before, it’s in Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” The greatest commandments, not suggestions, but commandments. That line, love your neighbor as yourself means that we have to treat everyone like we want to be treated. It means that One wrong doing never justifies a second

We find in Romans 12:17-21 – “Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

1 Peter 2:21-23

Jesus is our example of refusing to take revenge against those who mistreat us

“For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

IF WE CAN’T TAKE REVENGE, WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

It’s called forgiveness –

Matthew 5:38-48 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.