The Reversal Of Revenge Series

The Revolutionary War was complicated by the fact that it was often also a Civil War.

Families were on both sides of the conflict. William, for example became the governor of New

Jersey because of the influence of his famous father. The shocking thing was that William wanted

to be loyal to the crown of England. This led to a crisis, and after a heated battle with his

legislature he was sent to prison for two years.

When he was released in 1778 his heart was filled with anger for the colonies, and he fled to the

British to join them in the fight. He became a leader in terrorist activities against the very colony

as he had served as governor. When King George created an official guerilla army in 1780,

William was made its leader. Revenge drove him to lead his men to arson, rape, mutilation, and

murder. He was so obsessed that even when the war ended in 1781 he kept up the violence and

brutality in New Jersey into 1782. Benjamin Franklin called the war in New Jersey a Civil War,

and he knew, for the revenge-ridden man who kept it going was his only son-William Franklin.

What a paradox that one of our founding fathers had a son who sought to destroy our nation in

its infancy. History makes it clear that one of the quickest ways to ruin your reputation, and put ablot on your name is to let the spirit of revenge take control of your life. Much of the evil of this

world is due to the seeking of revenge. The problem is, it is a vicious circle. When you get even,

the one you got even with does not feel the score is even until they get in another hit, and the result

is the spirit of vengeance winds up as a Hatfield and McCoy type conflict where there is no end to

the injury.

Revenge itself must be avenged. It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and that goes for the

fire that destroys as well as the fire that warms and uplifts. That is why vengeance is an emotion

that a Christian must always keep under control. It is not that it is not a legitimate emotion. In a

world of evil and injustice where you or others are hurt by man's inhumanity to man you cannot

escape the feelings of anger which cry out for vengeance on those who inflict such suffering. Even

the saints in heaven cry out in Rev. 6:10, "How long, sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you

judge and avenge our blood." God does not say shame on you, but just be patient.

Never to feel the desire for vengeance is to lack the Spirit of God who feels it constantly.

Numerous are the text which say vengeance is mine saith the Lord. The vengeance of the Lord

and the day of God's vengeance are common themes of the Old Testament. The point being that

evil will not escape, and the injustices of life will not be ignored. God will set everything right,

and so the feeling of the need for this is not wrong. I am not expected by God to feel guilty about

the desire for vengeance. It is a normal feeling for anyone who cares about justice. The feeling is

God-like. The problem is in the actions this feeling generates. This is where we need to face up to

our limitations and surrender to God's authority. That is why Paul says in verse 19, "Beloved,

never avenge yourselves." Notice it is an absolute-never. Human revenge is never the will of

God.

I read of a college professor who was awakened at 3:00 A. M. by the phone. The caller said,

"This is your neighbor. I just wanted to let you know your dog is barking and keeping me

awake." The professor thanked him and hung up. The next morning he called his neighbor at

3:00 A.M. and said, "This is your neighbor. I just wanted to let you know that we don't have a

dog." That was clever, but not Christian. The original caller made a blunder, but revenge did not

likely make him a better neighbor.

The point of our text is, you will feel like taking revenge in life, for nobody gets by without

being the target of some injustice or some foolish mistake, or even pre-meditated meanness. The

feeling for the need for revenge is normal, but Paul says not to act on it, for when you do you

become part of the problem rather than part of the solution. This text is almost identical to the

teaching of Paul when he said, "Be angry and sin not." The emotion is not forbidden, for it is