Violence

July 31, 2008

#14

outsider wrote:

I used to be a pretty violent person. I try very very hard to restrain myself these days. I went from the perspective that some people just have it coming and though I'd rather not be the one to do it I wouldn't shirk it.

These days I'm trying very hard to not be violent. I live around the corner from my church and there was a guy who was ringing our church bells and trying to break them. He threatened to shoot me he threatened to shoot the church and other people at the church later (this was at 1AM) and I managed to not deck him though I felt completely defeated for not doing so.

I don't know if there is a time and place for it, I don't know if I should always \"turn the other cheek\" and its very difficult at times.

I suspect many others have a much easier time in this regard or at least I'd hope others have an easier time. But anyone else with a problem like this what do you do?

Violence is one thing, but protecting (defending the innocent, protecting the helpless, pleading for the poor and the widow), is quite another.

The Church Father\'s quotes gathered in the Philokalia point to the overcoming of anger as means to victory over all the passions. I\'ve read of violence being what was needed to turn a person from \\"the error of their ways\\". The person who threw the punch was repentant and asked forgiveness.

the sinful and unworthy servant

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