Featured Is it Right to Pray for Justice and Vengeance?

I don't presume to tell you exactly what you should pray for, that's the domain of the Holy Spirit.

Personally, when I pray for "justice", what I really mean is revenge, which clearly is NOT something a believer should do, so I don't.

Understand that I'm describing my failings, not anyone else's.

I think it is probably healthier to pray for justice in a global sense, and mercy in the individual sense, but I'm not asserting that this is or should be normative for anyone but me.

 

Rev 6:9-10 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

 

It seems that God sets a limit to His patience.

But when it runs its course He executes His wrath which is never pretty.

We should keep that in mind when we pray.

 

Revelation 18:6.

 

NIV Revelation 18:6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.

I wondered - perhaps "vengeance is mine" says the LORD because we would be too harsh but perhaps we would be more merciful than God.

David wondered that and he was later sorry he did.

 

Again, you need to pray for them, not for vengeance. The only remedy for a liberal mindset is the Lord.


God

 

If God dealt out Justice, you and I would have probably been dead long ago, brother. Instead He has dealt with us in great mercy. Every person involved in the Liberal Movement is no different than you and I before conversion. You and I were no less worthy of Justice, but, somewhere along the line there was a Saint of God involved in our being converted from someone just as vile in the sight of a Righteous God as those you speak of.

It isn't a matter of "praying for Justice," it's a matter of understanding that God has already told us Justice is coming, but in the meantime, we are to be busy with a focus on leading the lost to Christ. If a Liberal looks at statements from the Body of contempt it will only harden their hearts. But if they see the love of God in our hearts, despite their actions, and a sincere desire to see them blessed, I think that will go a lot further.

That doesn't mean that when we get the opportunity to contend with a Liberal we sugar-coat the truth. Give no quarter and ask none. But that is more appropriate in a one-on-one discussion, rather than general discussion which only serves to bolster their rebellion against the will of God.


God bless.

 

Compare with:

9 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
10 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Rev 6
20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her. Rev 18

10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
30 Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore.
31 And Israel saw the great work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah: and they believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses. Ex 14
1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, and spake, saying, I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Ex 15

...not only pleading for vengeance, but rejoicing when it is done.

 

Twice you brought up issues that deal with the Liberal Agenda, so it seems that in view is pretty much something I think we all have a problem with (most of us). I prefer to engage in discussions with those people directly. It never does any good simply to complain about it amongst ourselves.

You can check out the discussions I have on this Forum...I don't think you are going to get the idea I am pacifistic when it comes to debating Doctrine.

And we need to keep in mind that it is the Doctrine of Liberals we need to contend with, not o much the people. They might deny their views constitute religious practice, but that is what it is, and we should approach that discussion as such. It is their Doctrine that has to be addressed, and until we can address that, we are only stating opinions which never profit anyone anything.


God bless.

 

God has instructed us to love OUR enemies. NEVER should we love HIS enemies. Psalms 139:19-24

 

So ‘yes’ would be your answer.

 

Initially, the disciples, along with most Jews, were looking for the Messiah to form a worldly kingdom which would rise up and throw off their oppressors (Rome). This is why most Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah because He made it clear that He was forming the Kingdom of God.
Jesus didn't hate unbelievers or even those who hated God. He reached out to them to accept His message of God's forgiveness and love. I think he did count the Scribes and Pharisees among His enemies because they were hypocrites and thought they were better than anyone else. I also put in this category the lukewarm whom Jesus said He would spew out of his mouth. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies.

[Mat 5:44 KJV] 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

We don't see a lot of love coming from professing Christians today. In fact, we see a lot of hate directed at their political opponents. This is totally foreign to the teaching of Christ and does a lot of harm to the message of His Church.

 

As hard as it sometimes is, I rarely ask for anything in prayer. To ask for vengeance when God already claimed it as his seems selfish. I’m not seeing a big problem in asking for justice. But I try to simply say “thy will be done”.

 

Can you have your enemies who are not God’s enemies?

 

2 Timothy 4:14 (ESV)
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

While Stephen prayed for forgiveness of those who killed him, Paul seems to overlook that and ‘let’ God punish them. It’s almost as if he wished for it,looked forward to it