Unattached to Dignity

"If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Matthew 5:39

In Jesus' code of ethics, there is no room for an inflated sense of dignity. That isn't to say that we have no dignity; created in the image of God, we could have no less. What Jesus prohibits is our instinct to defend our "approval rating" in others' eyes. We are not to guard our image as though our self-esteem depends on people. We are children of God, a kingdom of priests, and one with Christ. Why would we be zealous for the opinions of a sinfully compettitive culture? We can be content with what's truly valuable.

Why are we so concerned about the impression we make on others? And why are we so convinced that a vigorous defence of our rights makes a better impression than our humility? Jesus articulates what ought to be clear to us: Honor comes to those who do not strive for it. The most admired are the most humble. The kingdom of God is well represented not by the strident and the overassertive, but by those who know their heavenly citizenship and are entirely content with it. That's how we can become unattached to our reputation; we already know who we are.

Jesus doesn't tell His people to be doormats. He tells us to be reasonable. We don't need to assert ourselves to be valued. We don't need to respond to evil with evil. The best resistance against aggression is to give it no ground for continuing. We are to defy it by showing its holy alternative. Evil is exposed in the face of humility. It does not know how to disturb a truly peaceful heart.

How do you respond when people offend you? Even when the offense is real, the response should be a display of the character of God rather than the impulses of men. The world expects eye for eye and tooth for tooth but no one who plays by those rules stands out from the crowd. There is no witness to the kingdom of God - this kingdom of grace - when we miss occasions to show it. We must decide which is more important to us: a defense of our dignity before others, or a demonstration of the holy kingdom.

"Revenge is the most worthless weapon in the world." ~ David Augsburger