Should we as Christians intervene?

Giruilla

My favourite lesson from the Bible and Jesus' teachings is 'Treat others as you would like them to teach you'. I try my best to live by this rule.

My question is, if we see people being treated in a way which you feel they don't want to be treated, is it our Christian duty to intervene?
After all if you felt you were being treated in a way you didn't like, but were say powerless to do anything about it, you would wish for someone to intervene and help you. Therefore if this is the way you wish people to treat you, (by intervening), you should treat them the same way.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, if I say I try my best to live by the above lesson, should I do my best to intervene and help others as much as I can. Even if this could damage my well being, even if afraid to help, when unsure of the consequences?

Medina

This is a tough one.

You may end up applying what you deem as 'unacceptable behaviour' onto someone who appears to you as mistreating someone else.

I would say unless you know all the facts then do not intervene.

However you could try to support and encourage the person on the receiving end of such bad behaviour.

It sounds as though you have a specific situation in mind..of someone you know?

Giruilla

I don't have a spcific person in mind or anything like that. i sort of more mean in day to day life. Like if you see a fight in town, should you try and break it up, even if you are afraid of what could happen to yourself. Should you at least try? Or if theres a bunch of knacks on the bus, annoying people, being abusive, should you say something? I know only certain people will intervene, those with enough confidence, those who know exactly how and are prepared to handle the situation. But is it wrong to take a back seat in these situations, would I be contradicting the rule I say I try to live by? Obviously most of Christianity involves faith. But isn't religion a way of life? shouldn't we act out are beliefs? I think my question is, which should play a bigger part in being a Christian, faith or bravery?

Medina

Ok then according to the scenarios you have outlined I would say yes a Christian really should intervene, the question really becomes how?
What do you say? Are you any better than them if you speak with no respect to those down the back of the bus?

And also a Christian then shouldn't be provoked to anger or bad behaviour by the consequences...i.e. getting laughed at / abused themselves in some way.

Unfortunately this is an ideal too high for most of us.

But yes I would say you are right depending upon what you say/do to intervene..and then again, is there ever a right way?

BrianCalgary

I would say yes, depending on where you where and the situation. If the opportunity would arise, ask God for wisdom in dealing with it. You never know how volatile the abuser could be.

robindch

> I think my question is, which should play a bigger part in being
> a Christian, faith or bravery?

this has come up before, fairly recently and it depends on the branch of christianity you ask. Protestants will typically say that unqualified belief is a necessity, after which actions are taken into account when totting up your life's balance with god. Catholics will typically say that unqualified belief is good, but not sufficient on its own without a sufficient balance of good deeds. The leaderships of other christian denominations (the CofE, amongst others, I believe) have said that good deeds on their own are sufficient, to permit good people of other religions to stay alive after they die. Non-christian religions have a range of beliefs covering much the same spectrum of possibilities.

ScumLord

I think in the two situations you mentioned it might almost be better to leave things be.

With the two guys fighting, I'd let them at it, it's their own fault they've gotten themselfs into a fight and deserve what they get. If one guys getting kicked on the groud and can't fight back I'd say "he's had enough lads" That is usually enough for them to stop without them turning on you. If someones been attacked I'd help him.

The naks on the bus are almost best left alone if their just being obnocious confronting them will probably only encourage them. Their is a line of course.