By: Elias Bejjani*
october 01/11
The derailed, Syrianized and Iranianized Maronite Patriach Bchara Al Raei Al Raei will be visiting the USA tomorrow for 19 long days. Let us as patriotic diaspora Christian Maronites in particular and free Lebanese in general be loud, courageous witnesses for the truth and say to this man of cloth a big NO for all his denounced and shameful pro-Axis of Evil stances and rhetoric.
Let us tell him with no hesitation, fear, or shame that we the Christian Maronites adore peace, fear Almighty God, hail coexistence, advocate for democracy and acceptance of others, and accordingly we cannot support killers and murderers or keep a blind eye on human rights' criminal atrocities in neighboring Syria or in any other county all over the world.
Let us be what we are and what we proudly have been for 7,000 years: a people of love, peace, faith, devotion, and openness.
Let this arrogant, conceited and estranged Patriarch take note that a Maronite noble and faithful clergyman is not recognized, respected or honored by us the Maronites when he against all our deeply rooted history, culture, faith and education supports the terrorist Hezbollah's arsenal of terrorism, destruction and invasions, stupidly sides with the evil Syrian regime, shamelessly advocates hatred and sickening grudges against other religious denominations in Lebanon, blesses Hezbollah's oppressive and occupational government in Lebanon, opposes the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, does not witness for the truth no matter what the hardships are, does not honor the sacrifices of our great martyrs, and is not meek, loving, forgiving and humble.
We call on all our brothers and sisters, the American Lebanese in the USA to completely boycott all religious and social events that Patriarch Al Raei will be involved in during his pastoral visit to the USA and to loudly make their stances be heard all over.
Meanwhile, we hail the righteous and courageous stance that the USA administration has taken by not giving Al Raei any opportunity to meet with any USA official.
Al Raei by siding with terrorism and terrorists is negating all Maronite history.
It is worth mentioning that the Maronites made Lebanon their homeland since the 4th century after converting its native inhabitants to Christianity. They were identified by it, and it was identified by them; they were and still are one entity. The Maronite people were always hopeful, faithful and strong believers in the Christian Catholic doctrine. They made victories of defeats, joy of sorrow and hope of despair. The Maronites successfully created Maronite nation with hard work and a great deal of faith and sacrifices, by fulfilling its four basic pillars, a land, a people, a civilization and an independent political entity. They constantly fight for what was theirs, and never ever surrendered to despair.
Fouad Afram Boustani (the Maronite historian) described the Maronite denomination as, a faith of intelligence, an identify of life, a solid belief in Catholicism, a love for others, an ongoing endeavor for righteousness, a mentality of openness on the whole world, and on its different civilizations, and a vehicle for martyrdom. The Maronites established the state of Lebanon and made it an oasis for the persecuted in the area. They believed and practiced multiculturalism and pluralism. They created with the help of other minorities in the Middle East the unique nation of Lebanon.
We call on Al Raei to repent and be what he should be, a good and righteous shepherd. With him and for him we ask Almighty God to:
Help us live in peace and harmony with ourselves and others.
Lead our steps into the righteous paths and grant us the strength of endurance and hold us back from the sin of hurting or hating others.
Grant us the graces of love, meekness, humbleness, transparency, honesty and forgiveness.
Maintain our hearts and minds pure, and free from hatred, grudges and selfishness.
Constantly remind us that vengeance is evil and forgiveness is a Godly grace.
Help us not to allow vengeance to take control of our lives.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Axis of Evil Is Holding Lebanon a Hostage
By: Elias Bejjani*
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. (Kahlil Gibran)
Both Logic and reality tell us that not even one sane person can dream that a meek sheep can fight a lion or even defend himself in a bid not to be devoured. This very simple fact is totally ignored by the Free World and the majority of the Arab countries when occupied Lebanon's dilemma is the issue. The whole world knows with no shed of doubt that Lebanon is still an occupied country and that the occupiers are Syria, Iran and their proxy armed terrorist militias, with Hezbollah in the forefront.
In 2005, Syria was forced to withdraw her occupational army from Lebanon after 28 years of barbaric oppression and inhuman atrocities against all the Lebanese people. But since then, nothing really has positively changed with regard to reclaiming independence and sovereignty by the Lebanese authorities. On the contrary, everything on all levels and in all domains has been getting worse and worse. In reality, the whole country, her ruling bodies, officials and people have all been hijacked and are being held as hostages.
During the era of its occupation, Syria evilly dissected Lebanon, divided its multicultural communities, killed, imprisoned or sent into exile all patriotic leaders and intellectuals who opposed its ironic and criminal hegemony. At the same time, Syria’s secret intelligence services armed the 13 Palestinian refugee camps and made them outlaw-Mafiosi mini-states. In conjunction with the Iranian mullahs, Syria erected Hezbollah's mini-state and armed its militia with a huge and deadly arsenal that became not only a threat to the Lebanese, but also to all the Arab and Middle East countries.
Hezbollah's 70.000 thousand full time armed (mujahedeen) men took over Lebanon after Syria was forced to withdraw her army, while thousands of Syrian secret intelligence service agents remained free and active all over the country. Meanwhile, Syria left intact four military bases under the camouflaged pretext of Palestinian resistance, one of them (Al Naemi base) is a few kilometers from Beirut international Airport.
The majority of the Lebanese people (from all denominations) who kindled the torch of the Cedars' Revolution won two parliamentary elections since 2005, but could not rule or put into office a free president, house speaker, army chief or any high-ranking official because Syria and Iran through their armed proxies aborted all peaceful and democratic endeavors, and militarily invaded and controlled most of the Lebanese regions. In last January, Hezbollah toppled the coalition government by force and intimidation and formed its own, while the whole world carelessly watched and did nothing besides empty rhetorical releases and statements of condemnation.
The irony lies in the fact that the US government has labeled Hezbollah, in its State Department report of 2008, as the world's most effective terrorist organization. The report said that Iran remains the most active state sponsor of terrorism, including supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the same report, "Iran's involvement in the planning and financial support of terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf, and undermined the growth of democracy". It singled out the Qods Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the Islamic republic's main means to cultivate and support terrorists overseas. The Qods Force gave "weapons, training and funding" to Hamas and other Palestinian anti-Israeli groups, Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as Iraq-based militants and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/nea/119120.htm)
One wonders how can the US, the mightiest military and financial power in the whole world, officially recognizes the serious and great dangers of Iran and its terrorist proxy ,Hezbollah, while expecting the Lebanese people and their patriotic leaders and parties to tame, control, disarm this terrorist organization and reclaim alone their country’s confiscated independence?
It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah from day one of its creation by Iran in 1982 and up until now has been a serious and deadly threat to all the civilized and Free World countries. As such, it is not merely Lebanese problem, but rather a serious problem, grave threat and challenge to global peace, stability and democracy. Hezbollah's essence and spiritual, cultural and political foundation are totally derived from the Iranian mullah's doctrine of “Wilayat Al-Faqih”.
The main pillars of this doctrine are zero tolerance for all others who are of different faiths and cultures and who do not fully submit to their control. It is a blatant rejection of the civil, democratic and free societies; a systematic, tireless effort to export the "Wilayat Al-Faqih", and impose it on the whole world through "Jihad" (holy war), deeply rooted hatred for the Western democracies and cultures, staunch enmity and hostility towards the US and Israel, all with a suicidal mentality. One of its prime aims is to destroy Israel and ‘liberate’ the Holy city of Jerusalem.
Therefore, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant organization on all levels and by every definition. Its Iranian mission, terrorist activities and objectives have become crystal clear, not only to the Lebanese people who are suffering on a daily basis from its oppression, intimidation and dictatorship, but also to the majority of the Arab states, US, Canada and Australia. This intimidation, fear mongering and illicit fundraising activities also extend to many European, African and South American countries.
Hezbollah has nothing to do with resistance, liberation or any actual patriotic Lebanese or Arabic causes by any means. In reality, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant brigade, a division of Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guards_Corps)
According to dozens of well documented and trustworthy reports, Hezbollah continues to run a vast, well organized and extremely sophisticated global network of drug trafficking, crime, terrorism and arms trafficking, infiltrating many Arab states, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Australia, United States, Europe, South America and numerous previous Islamic states of the USSR.
Since 1982, Hezbollah has systematically been devouring the state of Lebanon, destroying her military, judicial and financial institutions, crippling her legislature and democratic government and fragmenting and terrorizing her delicate social fabric, all the while solidifying the terrorist infrastructure and Iranian-modeled institutions of its mini-state and scattered cantons.
What is unfortunate and shameful, is that the Free World and surrounding Arab countries, are not showing enough determination, transparency, seriousness or persistence in dealing with Hezbollah. the most dangerous terrorist organization in the whole world, while they openly admit that Hezbollah and its Iranian masters are taking a very active criminal role in killing the Syrian and Iranian people who are revolting against the al-Assad and the Iranian mullahs’ dictatorial regimes.
In conclusion, Lebanon is an occupied country by all international means and legal criteria. The occupiers are the two Axis of Evil countries, Syria and Iran, with their armed proxies spearheaded by the terrorist Hezbollah. Simply and openly we strongly believe that the Lebanese people are not any more capable of freeing their country on their own while all the governing bodies and officials do not represent them but the occupiers. In this context, it is time for the Free World and Arab countries to courageously step in directly or through the UN and do something about this barbaric occupation and use all their available resources including force to free Lebanon and end its people’s oppression.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php
A little knowledge that acts is worth infinitely more than much knowledge that is idle. (Kahlil Gibran)
Both Logic and reality tell us that not even one sane person can dream that a meek sheep can fight a lion or even defend himself in a bid not to be devoured. This very simple fact is totally ignored by the Free World and the majority of the Arab countries when occupied Lebanon's dilemma is the issue. The whole world knows with no shed of doubt that Lebanon is still an occupied country and that the occupiers are Syria, Iran and their proxy armed terrorist militias, with Hezbollah in the forefront.
In 2005, Syria was forced to withdraw her occupational army from Lebanon after 28 years of barbaric oppression and inhuman atrocities against all the Lebanese people. But since then, nothing really has positively changed with regard to reclaiming independence and sovereignty by the Lebanese authorities. On the contrary, everything on all levels and in all domains has been getting worse and worse. In reality, the whole country, her ruling bodies, officials and people have all been hijacked and are being held as hostages.
During the era of its occupation, Syria evilly dissected Lebanon, divided its multicultural communities, killed, imprisoned or sent into exile all patriotic leaders and intellectuals who opposed its ironic and criminal hegemony. At the same time, Syria’s secret intelligence services armed the 13 Palestinian refugee camps and made them outlaw-Mafiosi mini-states. In conjunction with the Iranian mullahs, Syria erected Hezbollah's mini-state and armed its militia with a huge and deadly arsenal that became not only a threat to the Lebanese, but also to all the Arab and Middle East countries.
Hezbollah's 70.000 thousand full time armed (mujahedeen) men took over Lebanon after Syria was forced to withdraw her army, while thousands of Syrian secret intelligence service agents remained free and active all over the country. Meanwhile, Syria left intact four military bases under the camouflaged pretext of Palestinian resistance, one of them (Al Naemi base) is a few kilometers from Beirut international Airport.
The majority of the Lebanese people (from all denominations) who kindled the torch of the Cedars' Revolution won two parliamentary elections since 2005, but could not rule or put into office a free president, house speaker, army chief or any high-ranking official because Syria and Iran through their armed proxies aborted all peaceful and democratic endeavors, and militarily invaded and controlled most of the Lebanese regions. In last January, Hezbollah toppled the coalition government by force and intimidation and formed its own, while the whole world carelessly watched and did nothing besides empty rhetorical releases and statements of condemnation.
The irony lies in the fact that the US government has labeled Hezbollah, in its State Department report of 2008, as the world's most effective terrorist organization. The report said that Iran remains the most active state sponsor of terrorism, including supporting terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. According to the same report, "Iran's involvement in the planning and financial support of terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East, Europe and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf, and undermined the growth of democracy". It singled out the Qods Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as the Islamic republic's main means to cultivate and support terrorists overseas. The Qods Force gave "weapons, training and funding" to Hamas and other Palestinian anti-Israeli groups, Lebanon's Hezbollah, as well as Iraq-based militants and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. (http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/nea/119120.htm)
One wonders how can the US, the mightiest military and financial power in the whole world, officially recognizes the serious and great dangers of Iran and its terrorist proxy ,Hezbollah, while expecting the Lebanese people and their patriotic leaders and parties to tame, control, disarm this terrorist organization and reclaim alone their country’s confiscated independence?
It is worth mentioning that Hezbollah from day one of its creation by Iran in 1982 and up until now has been a serious and deadly threat to all the civilized and Free World countries. As such, it is not merely Lebanese problem, but rather a serious problem, grave threat and challenge to global peace, stability and democracy. Hezbollah's essence and spiritual, cultural and political foundation are totally derived from the Iranian mullah's doctrine of “Wilayat Al-Faqih”.
The main pillars of this doctrine are zero tolerance for all others who are of different faiths and cultures and who do not fully submit to their control. It is a blatant rejection of the civil, democratic and free societies; a systematic, tireless effort to export the "Wilayat Al-Faqih", and impose it on the whole world through "Jihad" (holy war), deeply rooted hatred for the Western democracies and cultures, staunch enmity and hostility towards the US and Israel, all with a suicidal mentality. One of its prime aims is to destroy Israel and ‘liberate’ the Holy city of Jerusalem.
Therefore, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant organization on all levels and by every definition. Its Iranian mission, terrorist activities and objectives have become crystal clear, not only to the Lebanese people who are suffering on a daily basis from its oppression, intimidation and dictatorship, but also to the majority of the Arab states, US, Canada and Australia. This intimidation, fear mongering and illicit fundraising activities also extend to many European, African and South American countries.
Hezbollah has nothing to do with resistance, liberation or any actual patriotic Lebanese or Arabic causes by any means. In reality, Hezbollah is an Iranian militant brigade, a division of Iran's notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Guards_Corps)
According to dozens of well documented and trustworthy reports, Hezbollah continues to run a vast, well organized and extremely sophisticated global network of drug trafficking, crime, terrorism and arms trafficking, infiltrating many Arab states, Israel, Mexico, Canada, Australia, United States, Europe, South America and numerous previous Islamic states of the USSR.
Since 1982, Hezbollah has systematically been devouring the state of Lebanon, destroying her military, judicial and financial institutions, crippling her legislature and democratic government and fragmenting and terrorizing her delicate social fabric, all the while solidifying the terrorist infrastructure and Iranian-modeled institutions of its mini-state and scattered cantons.
What is unfortunate and shameful, is that the Free World and surrounding Arab countries, are not showing enough determination, transparency, seriousness or persistence in dealing with Hezbollah. the most dangerous terrorist organization in the whole world, while they openly admit that Hezbollah and its Iranian masters are taking a very active criminal role in killing the Syrian and Iranian people who are revolting against the al-Assad and the Iranian mullahs’ dictatorial regimes.
In conclusion, Lebanon is an occupied country by all international means and legal criteria. The occupiers are the two Axis of Evil countries, Syria and Iran, with their armed proxies spearheaded by the terrorist Hezbollah. Simply and openly we strongly believe that the Lebanese people are not any more capable of freeing their country on their own while all the governing bodies and officials do not represent them but the occupiers. In this context, it is time for the Free World and Arab countries to courageously step in directly or through the UN and do something about this barbaric occupation and use all their available resources including force to free Lebanon and end its people’s oppression.
Elias Bejjani*
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
Elias Bejjani's Face Book site http://www.facebook.com/home.php
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
he Burning Coals Of Hatred
By: Elias Bejjani*
(1 Samuel 24/12): "May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you”
Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” have as their root meaning the idea of punishment. This is crucial in understanding why God reserves for Himself the right to avenge. Believers should refrain from acts of revenge and let God do His work. In both the New and Old Testament God asks us to leave the revenge issues for him.
(Deuteronomy 32/35): "To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste". (Deuteronomy 32/36): "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining bond or free." ".
It is a known fact that the severance of communication between people is a form of death and an evil readymade formula for bloody and destructive confrontations. When people cease to communicate with each other because of hostility, hatred, resentment, stupidity, ignorance, lack of faith, pompousness or fear of confrontation they simply abandon God Himself because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John1-1).
How could anyone who alleges to be religious and to fear God, allow himself to assume God's work and judge others based on his/her own concepts and self made criteria for what is right and wrong, and simply put them on trial and issue verdicts against them? He who does so does not really understand Christ's teaching which said: "Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged, for with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7/1-2). Those who unlawfully give themselves this Godly right Christ calls them hypocrites.
When two individuals speak two different languages that neither of them comprehends no actual communication takes place. One of them has to learn the other's language in a bid for the communication to be productive and a two-way one, or otherwise they keep on speaking an incomprehensible Babylonian language.
In this same context righteousness and evilness are two different human qualities with two contradicting frames of mind and mentalities. Those who abandon love, become dominated by hatred, hold grudges, judge others, cease to communicate speak the language of Satan, while those who believe in God and know that He is love, speak His language of problem solving, mercy, openness, consoling, forgiveness and meekness. (Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 13/1-3): "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing."
A proven devastating fact that is often ignored by the conceited, selfish, stubborn, childish, opinionated and stupid is that dire consequences occur when two parties become possessed with hostilities. They turn into rivals and speak the language of Satan. These two parties fall prey to a vicious cycle of hostilities and an endless cycle of retaliations. (John12/40): “He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”.
Impulsivity and anger are common human traits through which one loses control and acts stupidly without thinking of the dreadful consequences. We all know for sure that it does not take much of an effort to hate, despise, resent, act evilly or hold grudges against others, particularly those with whom we might have serious or crucial problems and conflicts with.
At the same time, it is very primitive to act violently and take revenge by physical or emotional means against those who one believes have inflicted pain on him or unlawfully took what is his by force or fraud.
"We should aim in all our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we may serve Him without fear. If His grace has delivered our souls from the death of sin, He will bring us to heaven, to walk before Him forever in light." (Matthew Henry: 56:8-13)
Meanwhile, to love and forgive is a very difficult task to do. The matter needs a great deal of self control, anger taming, and nobility not to react with revenge against those who confront us with hatred, grudges and evilness, especially when they purposefully hurt us and infringe on our rights, property, and beloved ones. (Matthew 5/44): "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
A well know Lebanese proverb says: "when in the woods if you are not a lion, lions will devour you". Yes, this is 100% right if we were animals, but we are not and the wood's doctrine, "the stronger eats the weaker", does not apply to human beings. Why it does not? Simply because we are God's children and He has created us in His image and we must act accordingly (Genesis 1/27): "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."
Our conduct ought to be righteous and not evil, civilized, peaceful, loving and shaped in a human and not in an animal manner. As God's children we are taught to love and not to hate, especially those to whom we see as enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. (Luke 6/27): "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you."
As God's Children, we are not supposed to take revenge no matter what, but instead forgive and leave the vengeance for God. (Romans 12/19): "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". (Leviticus 19/18): "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD". (Nahum1/2): "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and maintains His wrath against his enemies."
As devoted believers, we are required to leave the work of judgment for the rulers and courts even if we feel they are biased and unfair. God Himself will punish them if they do not fear Him and not perform their duties with justice. (1Peter 2/13-14): "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”
(Hebrews 10/30): "For we know him who said, “vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
There is no doubt that in this contemporary competitive and merciless society that we live in, self defense and protecting oneself and one’s interests is a lawful right, because the law does not protect those who are stupid. Self defense needs a great deal of wisdom, understanding and restraining of physical abilities by spiritual attainment. This simply means that the one who has the ability to bring great harm doesn’t mean he or she needs to use it for more than is required for self defense. Just because we can break someone’s arm, doesn’t mean we need to use that ability. Just because we have a gun doesn’t mean we need to fire on someone who breaks into the home.
Psalm 94/: "1 O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth"
The question is, when we are hurt do we have to act on our revenge impulses? Some say by taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.
Those possessed with hatred and grudges suffer the most. They sit on unseen burning coals that make them continuously sad, angry, hostile, miserable, unsocial and vindictive.
Let us trust in Almighty God, fear no one but Him, and beg Him to cure us from all ailments of hatred, grudges and hostilities
Psalm 56/11: "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
LCCC Face Book http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17974722934
N.B: It was first published in April/2010
(1 Samuel 24/12): "May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you”
Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated “vengeance,” “revenge,” and “avenge” have as their root meaning the idea of punishment. This is crucial in understanding why God reserves for Himself the right to avenge. Believers should refrain from acts of revenge and let God do His work. In both the New and Old Testament God asks us to leave the revenge issues for him.
(Deuteronomy 32/35): "To me belongeth vengeance and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste". (Deuteronomy 32/36): "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining bond or free." ".
It is a known fact that the severance of communication between people is a form of death and an evil readymade formula for bloody and destructive confrontations. When people cease to communicate with each other because of hostility, hatred, resentment, stupidity, ignorance, lack of faith, pompousness or fear of confrontation they simply abandon God Himself because in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John1-1).
How could anyone who alleges to be religious and to fear God, allow himself to assume God's work and judge others based on his/her own concepts and self made criteria for what is right and wrong, and simply put them on trial and issue verdicts against them? He who does so does not really understand Christ's teaching which said: "Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged, for with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7/1-2). Those who unlawfully give themselves this Godly right Christ calls them hypocrites.
When two individuals speak two different languages that neither of them comprehends no actual communication takes place. One of them has to learn the other's language in a bid for the communication to be productive and a two-way one, or otherwise they keep on speaking an incomprehensible Babylonian language.
In this same context righteousness and evilness are two different human qualities with two contradicting frames of mind and mentalities. Those who abandon love, become dominated by hatred, hold grudges, judge others, cease to communicate speak the language of Satan, while those who believe in God and know that He is love, speak His language of problem solving, mercy, openness, consoling, forgiveness and meekness. (Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 13/1-3): "If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing."
A proven devastating fact that is often ignored by the conceited, selfish, stubborn, childish, opinionated and stupid is that dire consequences occur when two parties become possessed with hostilities. They turn into rivals and speak the language of Satan. These two parties fall prey to a vicious cycle of hostilities and an endless cycle of retaliations. (John12/40): “He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”.
Impulsivity and anger are common human traits through which one loses control and acts stupidly without thinking of the dreadful consequences. We all know for sure that it does not take much of an effort to hate, despise, resent, act evilly or hold grudges against others, particularly those with whom we might have serious or crucial problems and conflicts with.
At the same time, it is very primitive to act violently and take revenge by physical or emotional means against those who one believes have inflicted pain on him or unlawfully took what is his by force or fraud.
"We should aim in all our desires and expectations of deliverance, both from sin and trouble, that we may do the better service to the Lord; that we may serve Him without fear. If His grace has delivered our souls from the death of sin, He will bring us to heaven, to walk before Him forever in light." (Matthew Henry: 56:8-13)
Meanwhile, to love and forgive is a very difficult task to do. The matter needs a great deal of self control, anger taming, and nobility not to react with revenge against those who confront us with hatred, grudges and evilness, especially when they purposefully hurt us and infringe on our rights, property, and beloved ones. (Matthew 5/44): "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
A well know Lebanese proverb says: "when in the woods if you are not a lion, lions will devour you". Yes, this is 100% right if we were animals, but we are not and the wood's doctrine, "the stronger eats the weaker", does not apply to human beings. Why it does not? Simply because we are God's children and He has created us in His image and we must act accordingly (Genesis 1/27): "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."
Our conduct ought to be righteous and not evil, civilized, peaceful, loving and shaped in a human and not in an animal manner. As God's children we are taught to love and not to hate, especially those to whom we see as enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. (Luke 6/27): "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you."
As God's Children, we are not supposed to take revenge no matter what, but instead forgive and leave the vengeance for God. (Romans 12/19): "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". (Leviticus 19/18): "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD". (Nahum1/2): "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and maintains His wrath against his enemies."
As devoted believers, we are required to leave the work of judgment for the rulers and courts even if we feel they are biased and unfair. God Himself will punish them if they do not fear Him and not perform their duties with justice. (1Peter 2/13-14): "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.”
(Hebrews 10/30): "For we know him who said, “vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
There is no doubt that in this contemporary competitive and merciless society that we live in, self defense and protecting oneself and one’s interests is a lawful right, because the law does not protect those who are stupid. Self defense needs a great deal of wisdom, understanding and restraining of physical abilities by spiritual attainment. This simply means that the one who has the ability to bring great harm doesn’t mean he or she needs to use it for more than is required for self defense. Just because we can break someone’s arm, doesn’t mean we need to use that ability. Just because we have a gun doesn’t mean we need to fire on someone who breaks into the home.
Psalm 94/: "1 O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth"
The question is, when we are hurt do we have to act on our revenge impulses? Some say by taking revenge, a man is but even with his enemy; but in passing over it, he is superior.
Those possessed with hatred and grudges suffer the most. They sit on unseen burning coals that make them continuously sad, angry, hostile, miserable, unsocial and vindictive.
Let us trust in Almighty God, fear no one but Him, and beg Him to cure us from all ailments of hatred, grudges and hostilities
Psalm 56/11: "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
*Elias Bejjani
Canadian-Lebanese Human Rights activist, journalist and political commentator
Email phoenicia@hotmail.com
Web sites http://www.10452lccc.com & http://www.clhrf.com
Mailing phoenicia group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Phoenicia/
LCCC Face Book http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17974722934
N.B: It was first published in April/2010
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