Sometimes I hear the concern from critics that those who advocate for the non-violent nature of God are just projecting their own ideas and desires onto God.
But, here is the thing. Left to my own nature and personality, I definitely AM an eye-for-an-eye guy. I grew up wrestling in school and fighting in bars. I both drew blood and lost blood. So, my own natural bent toward reactionary violence is quite honed, hostile and ever-ready. And, engaging in the verbally violent cross-examinations that practicing law demands has done nothing but show me how to even more effectively shred people who are attacking my clients.
But, when I first recognized 25 years ago that Jesus lives within me, and that He wanted to transform my heart, things changed. The God who turns the other cheek at my sin– bar none, has also called me to do the same toward all others– bar none. And by turning the other cheek, He doesn't ignore the sin at all. Rather, Jesus deals with it directly by overcoming all-evil with all-good.
"Turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, give the extra garment, love your enemy, pray for those who despitefully use you, THAT you may be sons of your Father in Heaven, for our loving God sends bountiful rain and replenishing sunlight on both the good and the evil, the just and the unjust, THEREFORE be ye perfect AS as your Heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:38-48.
My point is that it's counter-intuitive and contrary, at least in my case, for my nature and personality to project non-violent attributes onto God. For me to advocate a non-violent image of God is not projection at all since I am not that way by inclination. Projection is a psychological transference of our OWN qualities or faults onto our image of another. In fact, in a way, its Jesus who is projecting His own divine qualities ONTO and INTO us. And that's a good thing.
I think Richard Murray is much like me. I felt the pull of heavenly wisdom (from Jesus) and the pull of carnal wisdom when it came to how do I keep “turn the other cheek” by Jesus. I read stuff by Brad Jersak and Derek Flood, along with wrestling with Jesus’ words in the Scriptures. I wanted peace and direction in how to treat my fellow humans with love. Carnal wisdom doesn’t feel healthy to me anymore. However heavenly wisdom does feel healthy now. I don’t want to become my enemy… or my enemy become me (in the wrong way). Demonizing people is wrong. Hating people is wrong. Giving people what I think they deserve is not real justice. Giving people what they need is restorative justice. The Good News is that God wants to give us what we need, not what we deserve. By giving us what we need, we are forever grateful for His unconditional love. Who doesn’t see people differently when they give us what we need and not what we deserved. I wrote a book called, “Contrasting Humility and Pride” that speaks in part to my early struggles in finding non-violence as the healthier path forwards. Now I’ve written a new book called: “Pursuing Righteousness Along the Path to Love” that continues the journey forwards with Jesus’ grace (unmerited favor; empowering presence). It is almost finished the editing process. It will be on amazon… etc… not too long from now if interested???