On Being Punched in the Face

Last Monday, I was randomly punched in the face by a passing stranger. Having gone to a nearby convenience store to buy some cheap soda, a friend and I were walking back to Homerton College when one of two young men who were walking toward us sucker punched me in the chin/jaw as he passed by me. It was totally unexpected and seemed completely random. I was talking to my friend when it happened, and so all I saw was a blur before the punch connected. I continued walking, looking over my shoulder every few seconds to see whether the guy had turned around. He had; and there was tension for several seconds as my friend also turned around and briefly exchanged words with the man. I did not turn but kept walking, hoping to avoid any further confrontation with the man. Although the blow was delivered with enough force that I would call it a punch, it did no visible damage to me save producing two small cuts on the inside of my lower lip and a mild ache in my jaw. The whole ordeal, including events leading up to it and my and my friend's reactions to it, was uncanny and thought-provoking. It presented me with an interesting ethical dilemma that I think will be valuable and useful to draw on in the future. It was the most literal case of "turning the other cheek" I have ever faced.

In retrospect, I think that my response to the man's punching me was, although not a positively bad response, not the best response. I did not attempt to respond to the man's hitting me. Rather, acting out of prudence, hoping to avoid any further confrontation, I continued walking. There was nothing at stake, I thought; and so, as long as the man did not attack or threaten me further, for me to respond by attacking him would have been senseless and dangerous. Basically, then, I responded with inaction.

Christ did not command us, however, simply to not hate our enemies. His command, of course, was to love our enemies (Matt 5:44ff). Consider Jesus' words concerning how we should treat our enemies (i.e., those who hate us and persecute us):

38 You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. . . . 43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matt 5:38–39, 43–48)

Jesus is clear that we should actively love our enemies. But this raises a question in my mind regarding the situation in question: How should the particular motive(s) of the "persecutor" affect the Christian's response to persecution? In my situation, the man who punched me gave no indication as to his motive. A random stranger, he certainly didn't know my religious beliefs and so couldn't have been persecuting me for being a Christian. As far as I could tell, I was attacked neither "for righteousness' sake" nor "on account of [Jesus'] name" (Matt 5:10; John 15:21). How, then, (if at all) does this affect the situation?

The situation seems even clearer in light of Paul's words in Romans 12:

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:17–21)

Paul, too, would say that I did not go far enough in responding to the young man's actions. I acted, as I've said, out of prudence to avoid further confrontation. Does this satisfy Paul's command to believers, "If possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all"? It seems to—on the surface, at least. I certainly did not avenge myself (v. 19). In fact, I did not even experience a significant temptation to retaliate violently. Although I was not overcome by evil, I did not take positive action to "overcome evil with good" (v. 21). Perhaps there was little (effective) I could have done. Nevertheless, I can't help but think that I should have tried to talk to the man, and tell him that Jesus (and I) loves him.