THE GUTS NOT TO FIGHT BACK
Last Friday marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of perhaps the greatest moment in sports, and a milestone in American history. On April 15, 1947, number 42, Jackie Robinson, stepped onto the grass of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, as the first black man to play major league baseball.
Previously, Branch Rickey, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, had brought Jackie to Brooklyn, where he presented his groundbreaking offer to join the Dodgers. Then, bizarrely, he turned on Robinson, letting loose a string of profanity, calling the young player every foul name in the book. Robinson jumped up and faced the owner nose-to-nose. “I need to know, what are you gonna do when other players say that to you?” Rickey asked.
Robinson replied, “So, you want a player who doesn’t have the guts to fight back?”
“No,” Ricky replied. “I want a ballplayer with guts enough NOT to fight back… Like our Savior, you’ve got to have the guts to turn the other cheek.”
Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson shook hands, and with that, stepped into the history books. Both men endured verbal abuse from peers and fans. Both received death threats. And both displayed tremendous courage. Their actions paved the way for the civil rights movement in the 1960s.
Of all the commands of Jesus, perhaps the hardest is to “Love your enemies,” (Matthew 5:44). Being kind to those who want to hurt us, is about as natural as walking on water. But that’s how we win our battle with darkness. When we return evil for evil, we lower ourselves to the level of the enemy. Any three-year-old can get even. But returning good for evil? That requires deep moral character.
Demeaning others with differing opinions, is rapidly becoming the status quo—especially on social media. I shake my head in sadness at some folks I agree with—because they espouse their positions with vitriol, rather than virtue. We need to stand strong in our convictions, but share our opinions with kindness.
In Romans 12:21 Paul writes, “Overcome evil with good.” Practicing that, brings a little bit of heaven to earth. In fact, that’s what the kingdom of heaven is all about—the lifestyle of imitating Jesus. It may not produce instant results—but triumphs in the end. It certainly worked for Jesus. It worked for Jackie Robinson. And it will work for us. Let’s have the courage NOT to fight back.
Principle: We need to have the courage not to fight back when we’re attacked.
Ponder:
In your mind what is the difference between not fighting back and not having a backbone?
In what situations do I need to develop the courage not to fight back?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Matthew 5:38-48.
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us a whole new way of life—a lifestyle where we’re so free, we don’t feel the need to respond in the flesh and get even.”
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