Some thoughts on the Sermon on the Mount (particularly the command to turn the other cheek.)

There is a historic cycle of oppression. As the oppressed find freedom and gain power they become the oppressor. That is the only way humanity has seen power modeled.

So here Jesus comes along and preaches something truly new and radical. Turn the other cheek give your clothes away.

And when we read this we quickly ask well he didn't mean that literally.

"If some one hits me I am gonna hit him back."


You can hit your oppressor back (or whatever form the retaliation takes)and no one is going to fault you for it. But when you model truly and yes literally the teachings of Christ you will impact the world

When. Dr. King organized non violent resistance he succeeded where others had failed he took Jesus to his world

When the 13 year old Amish girl called out kill me kill me hoping to save some of he classmates she modeled Jesus to her world.

When Jesus prayed father don't hold this against them they don't have a clue what they are doing for the very people who butchered and murdered him he was being a living example of his own words. And he impacted the world.

Did he mean it literally? Yes! Does it sound impossible? yes!!!

If anybody ever told being a Christian was easy they were lying to you. "Becoming" a Christian is easy. Living the Christian live the way it was meant to be lived... There is a reason Jesus talked about dying to self and bearing ones Cross.