What should you do if someone threatens to kick your butt?

[Dave Slayer]

What should you do if someone threatens to kick your butt? What is Biblical?

 

[GojuBrian]

I would try and talk my way out of it, but at the same time realize and assess the threat.

I would back up as far as I could back up or even run away from the situation. Fighting is serious business and people are killed every year from stupid altercations like this.

If they get in my territorial bubble in a threatening manner, then what happens to them is their fault. I would only stop when the threat has passed.

From the sermon on the mount Jesus said

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

â€â€Matthew 5:38-42, NIV

Also, it is written in Luke

But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

â€â€Luke 6:27-31. NIV

Literal interpretation

This passage has been interpreted as an injunction of nonviolent resistance, and a teaching that it is wrong to commit violence, even in self-defense or retaliation.

Since this passage calls for total nonresistance, and since human governments defend themselves by military force, it has led some to Christian anarchism, including the notable Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, author of the nonfiction book The Kingdom of God Is Within You.

Figurative interpretation

A figurative interpretation relies on historical and other factors.[1] At the time of Jesus, striking someone deemed to be of a lower class with the back of the hand was used to assert authority and dominance.[2] If the persecuted person "turned the other cheek," the discipliner was faced with a dilemma. The left hand was used for unclean purposes, so a back-hand strike on the opposite cheek would not be performed.[3] The other alternative would be a slap with the open hand as a challenge or to punch the person, but this was seen as a statement of equality. Thus, by turning the other cheek the persecuted was in effect demanding equality. By handing over one's cloak in addition to one's tunic, the debtor has essentially given the shirt off their back, a situation directly forbidden by Jewish Law as stated in Deuteronomy 24: 10-13:

When you make your neighbor a loan of any sort, you shall not enter his house to take his pledge. You shall remain outside, and the man to whom you make the loan shall bring the pledge out to you. If he is a poor man, you shall not sleep with his pledge. When the sun goes down you shall surely return the pledge to him, that he may sleep in his cloak and bless you; and it will be righteousness for you before the LORD your God.

By giving the lender the cloak as well the debtor was reduced to nakedness. Public nudity was viewed as bringing shame on the viewer, not the naked, as evidenced in Genesis 9: 20-27:

Noah was the first tiller of the soil. He planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine, and became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.

The succeeding verse from the Sermon on the Mount can similarly be seen as a method for making the oppressor break the law. The commonly invoked Roman law of Angaria allowed the Roman authorities to demand that inhabitants of occupied territories carry messages and equipment the distance of one mile post, but prohibited forcing an individual to go further than a single mile, at the risk of suffering disciplinary actions.[4] In this example, the nonviolent interpretation sees Jesus as placing criticism on an unjust and hated Roman law as well as clarifying the teaching to extend beyond Jewish law.[5] As a side effect this may also have afforded the early followers a longer time to missionary to the soldier and or cause the soldier not to seek followers of Jesus to carry his equipment in the future so as not to be bothered with their proselytizing.

Righteous personal conduct interpretation

There is a third school of thought in regard to this passage. Jesus was not changing the meaning of "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" but restoring it to the original context. Jesus starts his statement with "you have heard it said" which means that he was clarifying a misconception, as opposed to "it is written" which would be a reference to scripture. The common misconception seems to be that people were using Exodus 21:24-25 (the guidelines for a magistrate to punish convicted offenders) as a justification for personal vengeance. In this context, the command to "turn the other cheek" would not be a command to allow someone to beat or rob a person, but a command not to take vengeance.

Some point out that Jesus said "he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one" from Luke 22:36 and the Old Testament laws regarding killing in self-defense to support this view. However, even Luke 22:36 could have been figurative as in Luke 22:38 the disciples point out that they have two swords among the twelve of them, to which Jesus replies "That is enough." If Jesus meant his statement to be taken literally then twelve swords would have been required, not two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn_the_other_cheek

What say you???

 

[Jon-Marc]

What should you do if someone threatens to kick your butt? What is Biblical?

In Walmart I accidentally pumped another person's cart--just a slight tap. He flew into a rage, cussing up a storm and threatening to meet me outside. He followed me through the store, still cussing and threatening me further. I just ignored him and said nothing. He was twice my size and could have easily carried out his threat, and I was not going to make him any more angry. I'm a lover and not a fighter. I never learned hand-to-hand fighting or any self defense even in the Air Force. Fortunately, I didn't see him when I left the store, and I thank God for that. I cannot understand such anger over such an insignificant incident.

 

[jasoncran]

Goju Brian you said it well, If you feel threatned, I tell the newbies in aikido,always look at the eyes as you can see the whole upper torso and feet. Look for body language and most people will look were there going to swing, and also will telegraph, one shoulder lifts, drop etc.Not to mention facial expression. Talking camly without yelling but, not wispering either. A cop friend said that if a person yells you can get to them to talks softly by lowering your tone gradually I've tried and it works.

 

[Lewis]

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

â€â€Matthew 5:38-42, NIV

You know some scholars think that Jesus was just having a sense of humor, when He said those words, because he did have one. They say that because, Jesus knew that not everyone is going to take that garbage, for instance, He knew that Peter would not take a tale kicking. Jesus Himself displayed a violent temper, in the temple.

Jesus even tells someone to buy a sword.
Luke 22:36
Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

But when someone tells you that they are going to kick your butt, they put you in fear. And if you are a really scary person, that can be much worse than actually, getting punched, or taking a beat down. Because you don't know when the person is going to strike, so you live in fear.

 

[GojuBrian]

[quote="Dave Slayer":2c54uamu]What should you do if someone threatens to kick your butt? What is Biblical?

In Walmart I accidentally pumped another person's cart--just a slight tap. He flew into a rage, cussing up a storm and threatening to meet me outside. He followed me through the store, still cussing and threatening me further. I just ignored him and said nothing. He was twice my size and could have easily carried out his threat, and I was not going to make him any more angry. I'm a lover and not a fighter. I never learned hand-to-hand fighting or any self defense even in the Air Force. Fortunately, I didn't see him when I left the store, and I thank God for that. I cannot understand such anger over such an insignificant incident.[/quote:2c54uamu]

That's pretty sad. The markings of a very violent and unsecure sociopath..on the loose even. :verysad

You should carry o.c. spray. :P

 

[GojuBrian]

Goju Brian you said it well, If you feel threatned, I tell the newbies in aikido,always look at the eyes as you can see the whole upper torso and feet. Look for body language and most people will look were there going to swing, and also will telegraph, one shoulder lifts, drop etc.Not to mention facial expression. Talking camly without yelling but, not wispering either. A cop friend said that if a person yells you can get to them to talks softly by lowering your tone gradually I've tried and it works.

When sparring, I look dead center chest. You can see all body movements when looking there.

I have a girlfriend who has a very violent ex-husband. He use to beat her and even put her in the hospital the last time out. A very unsecure and violent man.

When he first heard news of me he wanted to meet and talk. I obliged and when I got there he started yelling and threatening and rushing towards me. I put my hand out and told him calmly not to come any closer. I told that I wouldn't feel comfortable if he got close enough for me to touch him.
We had a semi-polite conversation from about 10ft after that.