The Rule of the Christian Warfare
Harry Jones, M.A. Romans 12:19-21 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay… 1. The world is a battlefield, and we are all not only under arms, but under fire. No man lives to himself; the whole fabric of society suffers for the misdeeds of one of its members. Every prodigal brings dishonour on the home, every deed of violence lessens our sense of personal security, every adulterer weakens the integrity of the marriage bond, every dishonesty hardens us against strangers, etc. Hence we are concerned not only in the evil done to ourselves, but in that done anywhere. 2. And we should be moved to protect the community as fellow-workers with Christ. Every true Christian has a touch of the knight errant in him. He is his brother's keeper, and this view of Divine chivalry is shared by many a one who has been blamed as busybody. When Christians first appeared people called them "the men that turned the world upside down." I. BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL. Don't yield to it. Don't turn your back upon it and say, "It is no business of mine." What should we think of the man who shrank away from some great famine or pestilence without a kind thought or deed for the sufferers? However safe, he would be overcome of the evil. When we shut our eyes from any general trouble we yield to it. And when the evil threatens ourselves the rule still holds good. II. OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. We may not be content with a mere protest against evil. In the great battle we may not deliver our shot and then step back, saying, "I have done my part." We must hold on until we win or until the Captain calls us out of the ranks. 1. Suppose the evil we contend against is a personal one. A man has injured you. The world might say, "Get your revenge." The apostle says, "Conquer it by good." Never let the enemy say he has silenced you. Some day repay him with an unexpected thrust of goodness. And in order to do this you must fight against the evil in the man rather than against the man himself. Even when you are compelled to enforce the law against him, do not sting or degrade him. 2. Suppose the evil be general — the prevalence of immorality or infidelity. If you think you cannot do away with it altogether, do not yield to it yourself. If you live in a dirty street you can keep your own doorstep clean. If you can do no more you can be a Noah or an Elijah. You may have to fight single-handed, but with the power which backs you, you can do that. But you must strive lawfully — viz., by doing good. The best answer to deceit is fair dealing. Darkness flies before the light. Falsehood is built on sand, and will some day come down of itself. Don't, then, pull it down; but prove the strength of truth by building upon the rock. (Harry Jones, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. WEB: Don't seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God's wrath. For it is written, "Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord."