Some More Bible

On this blog post, a commenter left the following:

"Verse 18. - 'If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men'. We must forgive everyone no matter what it is or it says God won't forgive us. To walk in the Spirit we must forgive. I have to do this every day and it works."

How very true! 

It is this author's observation that people who quote Romans 12:19 want revenge. This is not living in forgiveness, nor is it living peaceably with all men. 

Granted, Romans 12:18 gives the conditional, "If it be possible." Also, we have Ecclesiastes 3:8, "a time for war, and a time for peace." Sometimes, vengeance must be had. Sometimes, violence is the only answer. 

As Jordan Peterson accurately points out:

“If you’re not a formidable force, there’s no morality in your self-control. If you’re incapable of violence, not being violent isn’t a virtue. People who teach martial arts know this full well. If you learn martial arts, you learn to be dangerous, but simultaneously you learn to control it … Life is a very difficult process and you’re not prepared for it unless you have the capacity to be dangerous.”

That sentiment is the whole point of Matthew 5, particularly Matthew 5:3-12:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

That whole passage is not talking about how weak people are blessed for being weak. It is talking about people who are absolute monsters and keep it voluntarily under control being blessed. 

So, those people who quote Romans 12:19 because they cannot avenge themselves, are not moral. In fact, they are immoral. They are asking God to take revenge when He has decided not to. That is evil by default.