Expert: Rev. Stuart Woodward - 8/26/2009

Question
Hey,
Is there a place in the bible where it says we should allow ourselves to get hurt? And also, is there a place that says we should protect ourselves from getting from other people?
Thank you!!

Answer
Hello Nathan,
Thank you for your question. It is not a simple one to answer. I assume you do not just mean physical hurt but emotional too. In the teaching of Jesus we are told we are blessed if we are persecuted for His sake but there is no suggestion that we should go looking for the persecution. Jesus also said that if someone strikes us on the cheek we should offer him the other cheek but that seems to be more about being peacemakers and not retaliating than allowing ourselves to be beaten senseless.
We are also told that we should in honour prefer one another and in the example of Jesus we see that He was willing to suffer extreme hurt for our sake. The point of this is that it was for our sake. I think the implication is that there are times when we might have to be wrongly treated for the wellbeing of others but there is no virtue in this if the others are not helped to become who they should be in God.
The scriptures also tell us that we should be wise as serpents as well as innocent as doves.
If the price of ensuring we don't get hurt is that we refuse to love and trust then the price is too high, yet that love and trust must be done with wisdom. You can show love and trust to a man convicted of theft but the best way is not to place him in a place where it is easy to do it again for example.
I am sorry these are generalisations but without knowing more specifics that is all I can offer.
I hope the comments of of some help to you.
God bless you
Stuart Woodward