King Solomon describes the virtues of not being vengeful, but rather forgiving.
Proverbs 16:32 Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. (NIV)
American culture does not exalt those who “turn the other cheek”. Yet, recall the emotional ripple that went across this country, first in 2006 when the Amish of Pennsylvania came to the mother of the Amish school shooter (who had killed 10 young girls before shooting himself), and asked her not to move, but to stay in the community. Some of the victim’s families even attended her son’s funeral. The second was in 2015, after the shooting of 9 people by a racist fanatic at the Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. Once the shooter was arrested, the victim’s families showed up at his arraignment, not to curse him, but to tell him they forgave him.
Ultimately, it’s not the words of those who follow Christ — but their actions that validate the words of Scripture.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™