TURN THE OTHER CHEEK

As someone who grew up in church, I’m very familiar with many of Jesus’ teachings. These early lessons rightly shaped a lot of my perceptions about the world and the way I should act. I generally agreed with most of them and took them as truth. However, there was one verse I could never wrap my head around. The verse was Luke 6:29, which says, “If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also…” I’m sure many of us have issues with this verse as well, especially because the idea seems so contrary to everything we are taught. 

Our culture is one that emphasizes revenge and giving people what they deserve. Phrases like “get your lick back” and “match that energy” are popular, encouraging people to stoop down to the level of those who hurt them. These ideas can be satisfying in the moment, but they cultivate spirits of bitterness, revenge and impulsivity. From a young age, this is what we are taught is acceptable: to make people hurt the same way they hurt us. So, this verse was hard to swallow, as it felt, to me, like it was saying to let people walk all over us. 

But as I began to study this verse, I learned that it was actually saying something completely different. When someone hurts us, it is easy to try and avoid that happening again by retaliating and hardening our hearts which includes putting up walls to protect ourselves. I am no stranger to this, as I often keep people at an arm’s length as a result of past "slaps", even if it is subconscious. But in trying to protect ourselves from potential hurts, we often end up changing and closing ourselves off. While this does end up protecting us in a way, it also robs us of experiencing all of the beautiful things life has to offer through the intimacy of being in fellowship with others. I discovered that this verse was, in part, encouraging us to keep our hearts open to love, even if someone hurts us. 

I know that this is easier said than done, as some hurts can change us on a fundamental level and shift the way we view the world and the people around us. But God calls us to live a life of love, even in the face of offense. Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean that we are supposed to let others keep hurting us over and over, continuing toxic cycles. Instead, God is asking us not to punish our loved ones for theirs and other people’s mistakes. He asks us to turn the other cheek and start anew, giving those around us a clean slate (through forgiveness of the offense) to build relationships not tainted by the trauma and hurt inflicted in the past. If you live your life constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop, or with one foot out the door (just in case), can you really say that you are living with love? 

Studying this verse has forced me to stop and consider my attitude towards those around me. Have I let past hurts change the way I engage with the people I love? It’s an easy mistake, and I think most of us begin to do it before we are even aware of it. God doesn’t want us to be changed in a way that hardens our heart, so that we can’t be receptive when love shows up. And He doesn't want us to withhold it either. It can be scary to let your walls down, but it's worth it in the end. Consider turning the other cheek and continue to give and receive love. 

~Nia Roberts