REVENGE

The unknown man walked into my pastoral office. He reached into his pocket and pulled out…a little black book. I was so thankful it was not a gun. He told me his wife attended this church and asked a rhetorical question as he sat down in the chair across from my desk.

“Do you know what this is? This is my Revenge book. It contains the names of people who have done me wrong and I plan to make them pay. Most of the names are people who go to your church.”

We stared at each other as he waited for any reaction of shock. Then he continued.

He called out a name, looked at me, and then turned the page to call out another name. I sat motionless as the number of names exceeded twenty-five.

I was not shocked, just uncertain what he expected me to say until he asked, “What do you think of that, Preacher?”

I replied, “Do you want some more names for your book?”

REVENGE. Many of us have our personalized little black Revenge book. A few people carry a literal one in their pocket or purse. Most of us retain the names of the offenders in our heart and mind. I imagine some of us are in need of additional iCloud storage space.

How many of us unconsciously keep playing the Revenge Tour stereo lyrics to Hey Won’t You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song?

REVENGE—the act or desire to inflict injury, embarrassment, or punishment on another person in return for his/her wrong action or attitude toward you.

The ‘hurt’ causes an emotional backlash to ‘right the wrong’ by inflicting a ‘get even’ punishment on the wrongdoer to satisfy one’s sense of justice.

Revenge might be called retaliation, retribution, or vengeance. The thorn of the rose by any other name is still called revenge.

Its nature is often driven by anger, vindictiveness, and the unquenchable desire to cause similar pain and suffering to the target of revenge,

Some experts say revenge is a dish best served cold, calmly, and calculated. We plan for that perfect unsuspecting moment but stay cautious. Seeking revenge can have unintended consequences, potentially causing harm to oneself rather than achieving the desired outcome.

You push the massive revenge rock uphill, but it rolls back and crushes you.

Revenge may bite like a dog, scare like a green-eyed monster, or threaten your emotional well-being like a deadly virus.

You start with the name, offense, and possible retaliations. It fills up the space in your book as pages of bitterness pile up in the trash heap of your heart. You wake up thinking about it and then go to bed obsessing over it.

The ‘slow burn’ becomes a raging fire, but you are the person suffering from its torturous heat. You still feel the weight of the words like heavy chains dragging you to the bottom of your ocean of tears where you stare at the wreckage of your wonderful life.

The scars often fade with time, but the memories play on repeat. Every cycle of resentment takes you deeper and darker into the night of despair.

You begin to build the Revenge trap. Brick by brick. Piece by piece. Word by word. Until…your creation looks like a cage with no windows. You are the one locked inside.

Revenge becomes the poison pill you swallow while hoping the other person dies from it. You are the one suffering. You are the one trapped.

Have you read the novel, The Count of Monte Cristo? I recommend watching the 2002 movie (one of our favorites) or the current PBS Masterpiece TV series. Summary:

In the early 1800’s, Edmond Dantès is a young sailor falsely charged with treason, betrayed by three friends on the day of his wedding to the love of his life. They steal his career, his finances, his reputation, and his girl.

He is cruelly punished by life imprisonment at the Château d’If, an island near the coast of France. Edmond almost loses his mind in his solitary confinement of undeserved torture, as he hopes and prays for revenge on his betrayers.

Miraculously, another convict contacts him through a hole in the cell wall. This older Italian priest of high intellect and noble social skills spends fourteen years as Edmond’s teacher and mentor. They dream of escape as the mentor reveals a secret map to great treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo.

Even more miraculously, Edmond escapes from the island prison during the death of his friend. He uncovers the vast treasure and reinvents himself as the refined, wealthy, but mysterious, Count of Monte Cristo.

The Count moves to Paris with the intent of revenge on those unsuspicious of his identity. He has the knowledge and the resources to ruin his enemies financially, socially, and emotionally. His revenge plan will not only cause them great suffering, but the slow loss of everything, including life itself.

The Count considers himself the instrument of divine justice. He is like many of us as we take matters into our own hands as we seek to right the wrongs done to us.

The movie’s big question concerns the worth of revenge when it does not bring peace to one’s soul. The lost time cannot be recovered. The hurt cannot be undone. Revenge does not take away hatred.

Is revenge worth it? Does it satisfy? Revenge did not produce the satisfaction sought by the Count of Monte Cristo.

Revenge was not the answer for the Apostle Paul who had reason to seek it. Significantly mistreated. Falsely imprisoned multiple times. Mocked. Hated. Beaten. Verbal protests. Kicked out of cities. Left for dead.

Revenge? Read the inspired words.

Never seek revenge…Let God take care of the wrongs and the wrong-doers…If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21).

NEVER go on a Revenge Tour. God alone is the judge who will make all things right. Fight your thoughts and feelings of revenge with a focus on God’s love and forgiveness to you, now made possible through you to those who hurt you.

You are in Christ. Christ is in you. Consider Jesus (#/1 Textbook).

Jesus was mistreated to the max. Heartless betrayal. Unjustly arrested. Savagely beaten. Wrongfully whipped. Unmercifully crucified while being insulted, mocked, and taunted. Even friends deserted him in his time of injustice.

What did Peter say about that time? When Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).

Mega-star Taylor Swift widely popularized the idea of taking revenge. In her song Better Than Revenge, she sings, “There is nothing I do better than revenge.” It is not surprising that modern-day culture has embraced the trend of taking revenge on others.

I imagine all of us tend to think it is our right to seek revenge on those who have wronged us.

The #1 Textbook offers a bigger hit song about Joseph who did something far better than revenge. He had reason for revenge. He was in a greater position of power to enact revenge than the Count of Monte Cristo.

Joseph stood before the brothers who betrayed and sold him into years of slavery. Joseph dreamed of this day when he was in the pit crying from the hurt, when he was in chains dragged behind a horse, and when he was in prison cleaning the waste of criminals who deserved to be there.

What did Joseph say and do when he had the opportunity to enact revenge? He forgave and blessed those who hurt him. Why?

“What you meant for evil, God meant for good…to give you and me a future and a hope.”

Jesus told us, “You have heard that it was said that the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,’ But I say, if someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If anyone forces you to carry his stuff for one mile, carry it for two miles. 

You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:38-45).

Wow!

Jesus showed us that it is better for our emotional and spiritual health NOT to answer hurt with words of hurt.

Throw away that little black Revenge book on the bookshelf of your mind. You might need to start with tearing out a page at a time. Name by name. Hurt by hurt.

Stop the continuous replay of revenge as it rehearses the painful event and words repeatedly. The better response is to live as if that person did not take away your happiness and purpose in life. You will need God’s help and hope to do that.

“The best revenge is to be unlike the one who performed the injury” (Marcus Aurelius).

You do not have to be continuously around that person who is toxic to your well-being. But get them off the Revenge Tour list. Love. Forgive. Pray.

Jesus LIVES inside you to LEAD you to others He intends to LOVE through you, even your enemies. They might have meant to hurt you, but God meant it for greater good, for you and them.

Try it this week. Give your right to revenge to God. A heavy weight which hinders your happiness will be lifted off your heart.

Before you watch The Count of Monte Cristo, listen to the song, Even If, by Mercy Me.

They say sometimes you win some…Sometimes you lose some
And right now…right now I’m losing bad

I’ve stood on this stage night after night…Reminding the broken it’ll be alright
But right now…Oh, right now, I just can’t

It’s easy to sing…when there’s nothing to bring me down
But what will I say…when I’m held to the flame
Like I am right now?

I know You’re able…And I know you can

Save through the fire…with Your mighty hand

But even if You don’t…my hope is You alone

They say it only takes a little faith…to move a mountain

Well, good thing…a little faith is all I have right now

But God, when you choose to leave mountains immoveable

Oh, give strength to be able to sing

I know You’re able…And I know you can

Save through the fire…with Your mighty hand

But even if You don’t…my hope is You alone

I know the sorrow…and I know the hurt

Would all go away…if You’d just say the word

But even if You don’t…my hope is You alone

You’ve been faithful…You’ve been good…all of my days

Jesus, I will cling to You…come what may…because

I know You’re able…And I know you can

Save through the fire…with Your mighty hand

But even if You don’t…my hope is You alone

It is well with my soul…It is well…it is well with my soul