Respond with Love

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for 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.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

John 13:34-35
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus was instructing his disciples in how to act in the face of derision, adverse treatment, persecution or pride-wounding treatment. The key command is to love the person who is the cause of your embarrassment or disturbance. A disciple is not prideful. It is not them or their dignity that is the issue. It is Christ and his glory that is the issue. If someone tells you to renounce Christ or die it is a simple choice. To die is gain. But if someone makes you feel bad, they hurt your pride or their actions disturb your dignity, you are to endure and return their action with love. That is what Christ commands.

It is not to say that we are to be doormats in the face of blasphemy or sin, or if someone is willfully and continually mistreating us. There are times when we are to meet hatred with positive love and other times when we are to confront our brother about sin (Matthew 18:15-17). In Galatians 2:11 Paul recounts how he opposed Peter on matters of Christian principles. He did so because he loved the gospel and the other believers, not because he was selfish or prideful. But Paul and Peter didn’t stop loving each other over their disagreement. Why? Because they were commanded by Jesus Christ not to.