Caught In The Middle
Lesson 6

Lesson Six

Respect, Not Control

Text: Romans 12:19-21

Consider a too common concept of godly faith. If the most common synonym for faith that we have in the English language today is trust, how much do you trust God? (1) "Oh, I trust Him enough to do something as long as I can do something about it. (2) I have no option but to trust Him in a situation no one can do anything about--such as death. (3) I trust Him as long as what He wants makes sense to me."

May I suggest this person has no confidence in God. (1) He/she has confidence in his/her ability. (2) He/she is forced to acknowledge God has a role in a situation where no human can do anything. (3) He/she uses his/her understanding to determine when to have faith or trust in God. Thus trust in self or the human factor determines when trust in God exists.

This is not the suggestion that a godly person does not use his/her abilities to honor God. It is not to suggest that the only acceptable faith to God is blind faith. It is to suggest that Christians use their abilities to honor God because they trust the One who gives the ability, not the ability itself. It is suggesting that trusting God commonly goes beyond the understanding of the person, beyond the abilities of the person.

One of the most deceptive temptations of Satan is this: the purposes of good are achieved through an evil act. Consider the first temptation recorded in Genesis 3:1-7. Note that when Eve looked at the fruit she considered it good for food, aesthetically pleasing to look at, and desirable for wisdom. God's injunction "made no sense." The fruit was more than just harmless--eating it would actually produce good! From what she knew, no harm would come from the rebellion. "From what she knew"--there were things she did not know. Knowing evil makes us cursed, not wise. We prove repeatedly that we cannot handle evil. We can not even put evil in perspective! In ignorance of the tragedy the knowledge of evil brings on humans, Eve and Adam yielded to rebellion because "it made sense to do good."

It is amazing to see how many evil acts are committed in the conviction that the evil act will produce good. It is equally amazing to note how many people do evil in the conviction they are actually being godly by doing evil.

Christianity is not for cowards! The principle of rejecting vengeance in an evil world requires courage! From where did the principle of rejecting vengeance come? From a God who endured continual rejection but refused to subject people to complete destruction and from a Christ who unjustly died to redeem the people who rebelled!

The Christian understands there are some things that will never be the prerogative of the godly person! Vengeance is one of those things! The Christian places vengeance in God's hands! Why does the Christian leave vengeance to God? (1) God will act! No one "gets away" with anything! God knows who did what, and no one can obscure blameworthiness by deflecting responsibility. (2) God will be just in His considerations. While He will be emotional in His vengeance, emotion will not blind the accuracy of what He does. He will act on the basis of inner reason and outward act. He will understand the motives as well as know the deed. Nothing is hidden from Him! (3) The Christian knows his/her indebtedness to God's forgiveness. The Christian was not forgiven because he/she is good but because he/she repents and accepts Jesus Christ. In their transformed life, Christians commit themselves to reflecting God's character while never forgetting they are not (and never will be) God. They are God's servants who serve others (even the undeserving) to express appreciation for the God Who continues their forgiveness. They do not exist to be judges. They exist to show kindness.

Thus their actions toward their enemy target the enemy's conscience, not his/her physical well being. Hunger is addressed with food. Thirst is addressed with water. The Christian does not take joy in the physical suffering of an enemy. He/she wants an enemy to cease being an enemy by becoming a changed person. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.

The ultimate expression of trust in God is the conviction that good (from God) is stronger than evil (from Satan). (1) Because we exist in a world perverted by evil, (2) because we exist in a world where evil seems to be a part of the normal state of affairs, and (3) because we live in a world where evil commonly opposes good and seems to triumph over good, it is easy to become convinced evil is stronger than good.

In a world where evil has the appearance of being stronger than good, vengeance seems to be the sensible way to go. However, there are other factors to consider. (1) This perverted world is temporary. (2) While evil may seem permanent, it also is temporary. (3) Even physical death is temporary. (4) All are accountable, and will explain to God how they used life, and why they used it as they did. (5) There is coming a world, an existence, in which only righteousness exists. Read Hebrews 11:13-16.

The question is this: because this will happen, what kind of person should you be? Read 2 Peter 3:8-13.

Life is an investment. The issue: in what? The permanent or the temporary? Never forget that most worthwhile investments require sacrifice.

For Thought and Discussion:

  1. Explain the difference between trusting in God and trusting in humanity.

  2. Use the example of Adam and Eve to illustrate the conviction that good can be produced by an evil act.

  3. Use vengeance to illustrate Christianity is not for cowards.

  4. From where did the principle of rejecting vengeance come?

  5. Give three reasons for the Christian placing vengeance in God's hands.

  6. Why does the Christian target the conscience instead of physical well being?

  7. Why is it convenient to believe evil is stronger than good?

  8. What five things should be considered when evil appears to be stronger than good?

  9. What is the question?

  10. What did Peter say to Christians suffering from injustice in 2 Peter 3:8-13?

  11. What is the issue?


Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 6

Copyright  © 2007, 2008
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ


previous page | table of contents | next lesson