It may have been a week ago when I wrote on Forgiveness and Justice, and since then, I have come across a passage in Romans that has brought an alternate idea to my mind, a concept that provides an alternate reaction to injustice other that through forgiveness

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Romans 12:18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Romans 12:20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

And what might that idea be Carl?

Revenge.

Is not revenge a form of justice, and we know God loves justice. Is revenge not a way of creating a fair and equitable resolution to the injustice we all suffer?

But I am getting ahead of myself. What is revenge?

The Greek word is ἐκδικέω ekdikéō, from which we get the translation “avenge” in our verse. A few years ago, I penned a blog series about a Christian’s relationship to judging (Judge Judge Judge), I recorded a short study on dikē. I think the root word may be recognized in our word for revenge.

With that connection, I submit to my reader that revenge has the component of judgement. Not judgement as in condemnation, although it may include it, but the judgement is the determination that a certain action was unjust.

Two items to consider.

Emotion & Knowledge (of circumstance)

A judge is to be impassionate about the determination of any righteousness being broken. Not only is the judge to be impartial, and without emotional connections to the plaintiff or the defendant, but he is to have knowledge of all the circumstances of the occurrence being judged.

How inadequate we are in both these arenas of ability, when we seek to make a judgement on the actions of another, to determine if injustice has be inflicted on us

Knowledge of the Law

The second item to consider when we seek to make judgement, beyond the emotional bias and the lack of knowledge of the circumstances from both parties perspective, is the intimate knowledge of the law, or standard by which we are to make judgement.

Of course I have intimate knowledge of the law I want to use, the law of Carl, the law that is malleable and forever favoring my weaknesses, while harshly falling on my inflictor of pain!

That law is deceptive, and full of hypocrisies. It may appear fair to myself, but it is not a standard that anyone else accepts.

The law by which all judgement is to be determined is of course the law of God, the standard which we are too often incapable to discern when we are hurt or treated poorly.

It is in these times when we have been, in our opinion or in truth, treated unfairly that we need to pull back and not make judgement on the circumstances.

Our word in Romans actually is translated as “take revenge”, as in it is our prerogative to make a judgement and determine the punishment based on the judgement. Our judgement of the injustice! Our decision on the severity of the punishment!

Paul suggests we do not take revenge. Take it cool, try not to make any judgement in order to determine a punishment, and then to inflict it on someone, even though they may not even understand my actions. Seems fair!

Golly. That is not what Paul is saying. Let us read it once more, though it is a difficult word!

Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Never. Never avenge yourselves. As we have ventured through this short review, it has been important to remember that it is in the heart and mind, that revenge begins. I quickly can make a decision or judgement that what I experience is “unfair” or “unjust”. As a matter of fact, my decision making skills in this regard are instantaneous

Even if the action is not a perceived injustice, but in actual fact a unjust action against me, inflicted on me with evil intent, Paul tells us to never take revenge

We ain’t got the knowledge, and we ain’t got the impartiality to make a just judgement. And we certainly don’t know the law as intimately as the true Judge, the law that is the standard for judgement to be determined and justice to be accomplished

With Paul, I theoretically echo his admonition to each of us.

Romans 12:19 – 21 c…it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

May this teaching Paul provides become less theoretical and increase in practical application in our lives.

When your spouse says something that may offend you, don’t make an internal judgement and decide on how to get back at her. Either talk with him/her about it, or simply forgive them.

When your boss, who is extremely busy, cannot answer an important question you need answered, realize the situation make an informed decision based on your current knowledge and do your best. And don’t harbor unjust thoughts towards him or her.

When a church friend or official looks like they are not “walking properly”, make an effort to openly discuss with them the appearance of impropriety. Sitting back and stewing about it, or spreading gossip is not the type of action that is pleasing to the Lord.

When I started this post, I said there was an option on how to deal with injustice other than through forgiveness. For the lost, this is the only alternative. For the believer this is not an available option, though it is too often exercised.

Relating to believers, I was wrong in my earlier statement! Revenge and the believer are not to be in the same room!

Let the Lord, the One who has intimate knowledge of the true law, has the capability to be impartial between two parties, and knows all the circumstances of the infraction; let Him be the judge and the One who passes the sentence.

He is the Only One who will do it correctly.

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