Is there some background to these “Against The Wall” posts?

Marcia,
Not sure what you are asking, but I’ve been doing a series on Psalm 119 and working our way through the whole.

That’s what I was asking. Thanks.

Scot,
Are these enemies from within the house of Israel, ie. Saul, or are outside the family?

and, how does it change the way we look at it when the “enemy” is family?

CAS,
Surely the psalmist’s co-religionists — fellow Jews who found the psalmist’s commitment to be over the top. I haven’t really thought much about the second question. Any thoughts yourself?

Well, Scott, I have thought a lot about it… because I have lived it. I think the law of love has to govern our responses, but figuring out what love looks like in any given situation is the challenge–esp. when there are competing moral claims. Also, if the oppressor is harming the innocent–who have no power to respond, and we have some power to act, that, in my mind, supercedes our commitment to love the oppressor. Make sense?
I really wanted to know your thoughts, however!

CAS,
When you say “family” do you mean home or church?
By the way, I’m having a difficult time commenting on my own blog today — the system doesn’t seem to be working right.

I’m having trouble commenting too–i keep losing my connection every time i hit the submit comment buttom.
i mean church.

CAS,
Nothing easy here. You have to work with the leadership and authority structures you have. If they are unwilling to work with you, you need to consult with someone you can trust within that church to see what they advise.
To love the oppressor means to fight against the oppressor’s injustices.

Yes! thank you Scott. That is exactly what we did. I love your last comment: “To love the oppressor is to fight against the oppressor’s injustices.”

Okay, this comment is probably redundant now, because it WOULDN’T POST, but I’ll throw it out anyway:
CAS–I’m following this with real interest. I recently mused on this same thing on my own blog in reference to Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Was it right for him to plot to assassinate Hitler? What about Matthew 19?
18″Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
He doesn’t say, do not murder unless the intended victim is a murderous, crazed dictator. He doesn’t say, do not give false witness unless you are trying to protect yourself or others. He says don’t do it, period.
So I’m quite curious as to how to work out exactly what you said–what if the oppressor is harming the innocent?

Marcia,
The situation I referred to is briefly summarized in the current issue of Christianity Today in an article called “Day of Reckoning.” It was a very difficult set of circumstances to navigate, and the cost was extremely high for me, my husband, and our children.
I’ll ponder your question re. Bonhoeffer and comment later. I must go to work now.

Oh, in my many attempts at commenting I somehow lost the part where I said that I realized that this wasn’t exactly the same thing you were talking about, CAS, but that I was following along just the same.

I think it’s very interesting that in this post we are looking at scripture teaching us to call out to God, and in the other thread, we are looking at what happens when God doesnt seem to answer of cry for help.
The most confusing stories of all are the ones where people are calling out to God for intimacy, and he doesnt seem to hear or answer.

Marcia,
Hindsight obviously allows us to empathize with Bonhoeffer’s plot to assasinate a genocidal sociopath. We wish he had done it. Things don’t work out so neatly in real life as they do in our fantasies, however. It’s not quite the same scenario, but our government, was, I believe, involved in putting Sadam Hussein into power, and now in overthrowing him, and look at the quagmire.
As to the idea of lying, murdering, etc. for a greater good. That’s sticky. I reject utilitarian reasoning. But Rahab is commended in Hebrews and her faith included some deception to protect another. Where does that leave us? It leaves us with the fact that life is messy, and we do the best we can, in the power of the Spirit, to do the right thing.
A pastor I know once said even our best deeds are tainted by sin. That’s the part that will be burned up and tossed into the fire. What’s left as a work of the Spirit will have its reward.
Sometimes we have no choice but to act and live with the consequences.

Yes. Avoid fighting fire with fire. Avoid stooping to their level in retaliating. But look to God, in faith in him and his promises.