“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:38-42

Bottom Line

The way of Jesus involves actively resisting evil with non-violent love.

Kingdom Aikido Example #1: Turn the Other Cheek

If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.
Matthew 5:39 

Kingdom Aikido Example #2: Hand Over Your Coat

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.
Matthew 5:40 

Kingdom Aikido Example #3: Go an Extra Mile

If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.
Matthew 5:41

Key Components:

• Don’t respond in kind
• Reclaim your agency
• Hold Up a Mirror
• Invite Repentance

"Loving confrontation that frees the oppressed from docility and the oppressor from sin."
— Walter Wink

Action Steps

Pray — Create some space with Jesus to pray through the following:

• Am I more likely to fight or flight when someone mistreats me?
• Where might Jesus want to speak to my violent reactivity or docile passivity?
• Is there someone in my life that feels like an enemy right now?

Practice — Create a non-violent resistance action plan for situations of mistreatment
Key component might include:

• taking a deep breathe to remain calm
• refusing to strike back or run away
• responding with assertive kindness
• name the dynamic or mistreatment
• cast vision for a new way forward