Does the radical tolerance I talked about in the previous post in this series mean that Christians have to be pansies? Pushovers? Willing victims?

Sometimes when see texts like the following, we wonder:

Matthew 5:39-41: If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.⁴¹If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles

Really? If someone jacks me in the face, I’m supposed to stand there like an idiot and ask them to do it again? Is that gracious? It sounds sadistic!

Cultural context matters! This is first century palestine, and in first century palestine how did people greet one another? With a kiss on the cheek.  Jesus isn’t saying to stand there and get pummeled.  That’s not martyrdom, that’s stupidity.  Jesus is saying that if you offer friendship to someone, and they let you down (which, as you know, happens), you must be willing to put yourself at risk and offer them friendship again. When someone fails us…we must be tolerant.

But maybe the most compelling image of tolerance is in verse 41.  It’s another strange read, because no one has every forced me to walk a mile with them. Ever. Why would they do that?

Once again, cultural context matters! This is first century palestine, and in first century palestine who would force you to walk a mile with them? A roman soldier would.  He’s had a long day working hard to oppress your people…he’s been screaming and taxing and raping and stealing and crucifying children all day long.  He’s spent.  And all of that armor is getting pretty heavy.  It was typical for a roman soldier to force an Israelite to carry his armor.  Jesus said that when that happens, you have a golden opportunity to show him love, to speak truth, to offer peace, to do the ministry of reconciliation.  Jesus said to walk an extra mile with him…it’ll be time well spent.  When someone wrongs us…we must be tolerant.

Are Christians intolerant? Not Biblical ones.  Jesus called us to the most radical form of tolerance imaginable.