Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written, “It is mine to avenge, I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
Paul begins Romans 12 with an exhortation to present our bodies to God as living sacrifices. The very practical implications of this decision are seen throughout the rest of the chapter. A living sacrifice renews his mind, lives in humility, serves others with the gifts God has given him/her, loves, honors, blesses, shows hospitality, and responds to evil with grace.
It is the last one that is perhaps the most difficult. No one likes conflict (at least no one really sane). And no one especially likes being the recepient of injustice. When I am treated or judged unfairly, there is something that rises up in me wanting to defend myself or fight back. I think, in some sense, that is a reflection of the image of God in us. We were created by a righteous God and we long for/expect to be treated righteously in this world (even if we don’t always treat others righteously). Of course, early on in life we learn a very important lesson, “Life is not fair.” It’s a hard lesson to learn and we don’t especially like it, even when we know it is true.
So how are we supposed to react when “life is not fair” to us? This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where being a “living sacrifice” becomes more than just a quaint religious phrase. When we are treated unfairly, Paul says we are to respond in the following ways:
1. Do not repay evil with evil. Do not seek revenge. First thing, don’t retaliate. Don’t give in to your first instinct. When someone cuts you off on the road of life, don’t give in to your sinful passions and tailgate them with your brights on. Don’t react in anger, learn to respond in grace.
2. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. I find this pretty amazing. Even though we are all sinners; we all still have some concept of what is right. Even unbelievers know what is right. Paul says instead of retaliating, calm down, consider your options and choose that which would be considered right in the eyes of everybody. Take the high road.
3. If it is possible, as much as you can, seek peace. When we take the high road, we leave the door open for reconciliation. Retaliation always, always escalates the problem. Instead of one offense, now there are two to deal with…and usually that number is multiplied as time goes on. Of course, Paul recognizes that reconciliation is a two-way street. We can only do so much and then we have to leave the rest in God’s hands and in the hands of the other person.
4. Repay evil with good. Here is really the most radical statement in all of Scripture. It is the equivalent of Jesus’ words to “love your enemies.” It goes against the grain of every passion in our being. It runs counter to our culture. It is one thing to overlook an offense and to choose not to retaliate. It is quite another thing to actually respond to an attack with grace and goodness. Yet there is something inherently powerful about such a response. For one, it shows a strength that can only come from God. And two, it heaps “burning coals” on the head of the one who mistreats us. I’ve always wondered exactly what this means. My best guess is that it means that responding with kindness piles a burning sense of shame and conviction on the other person that is more effective than fighting back. That, however, is no guarantee that they will relent or that we will be shielded from further harm. I am sure as Paul wrote this he had a mental picture of Stephen being executed and looking up to heaven and praying for his enemies. I do not think that picture ever left Paul’s mind. Paul was there and a part of that unjust execution. But Stephen’s grace burned through Paul’s hardened heart and opened him up to the more amazing grace of God.
This is not the easy road. This is the road of the living sacrifice.