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Thoughts on Vengeance

Thoughts and desires for revenge is built into the sinful nature of people.  From the very beginning people who have been wronged looked for ways to “pay back” the offender.  Books, movies and TV shows all rely on the idea of people getting revenge for some past wrong.  In Genesis 4:23, a man named Lamech said this:

Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me. If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold.

Revenge was in the heart of people from the very beginning.

Today there is much talk about revenge.  People seem to have long memories about being wronged and they hold onto a grudge, seeking for an opportunity for revenge.  I have met several people that fantasize over how they will have their vengeance on someone for a long ago offense.  They have no plans of carrying out any physical revenge, but think about how it might happen.  They think it gives them some form of comfort, but it is very dangerous.  People who hold grudges and ponder revenge are like people who drink poison thinking it will kill the other person.

The Bible has much to say about revenge.  Because it is sinful to plot and plan revenge, Christians are urged in Romans 12:19 to leave vengeance to God.  God knows more about every situation and he will pay back in accordance with the truth.  When we try to avenge ourselves, we just join in on the sin.  This destroys relationships and turns people against God.

The top priority of every Christian needs to be the salvation of people.  Anything we do to push people away must be removed so that Christ may be shown.  If we hurt people who hurt us, then Christ is pushed back until our own selfish desires are taken care of.  This is a sin.

Anyone who has thoughts of revenge needs to confess those thoughts as the sins they are.  Then pray that God will show how to love and forgive the person who offended.  Forgiveness is the standard behavior of every Christian, not vengeance.  Christ forgave those who nailed him to the cross.  If anyone had the right for revenge is was Christ.  Yet Christ is our example.  We forgive.  Lamech’s revenge was seventy-sevenfold.  Christ told his disciples to forgive seventy times seven.

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