You’ve seen it a thousand times in the movies. The villain looks up to the sky after suffering a monumental blow to his ego and shouts, “I’ll have my revenge!” In an instant, we understand the motivations of the antagonist and are convinced to root against him for the rest of the film.
On one hand, this cliché is so overplayed that you will hardly see it in a cartoon anymore. On the other hand, it became so common because the temptation for revenge is as understandable as it is unjustifiable.
When we are wronged, we want that evil to be answered. That is called justice. But, when we take justice into our own hands, it is called revenge. The Bible tells us, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). So, what do we do with the desire for justice?
The desire for justice is not a bad thing. Justice is a reflection of God’s nature. “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deut. 32:4). When evil is done in the world, God promises that it will be answered with justice. “For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off” (Psa. 37:28). We are even commanded to desire justice. Isaiah 1:17 tells us, “Learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” So, how is justice carried out if we cannot take revenge?
God created institutions to enact His justice in this life. In the church, He gave us the eldership (cf. 1 Pet. 5:1-3; Heb. 13:17). By their counsel and judgment, brethren are held accountable. In the world, He gave us government. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil…But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil” (Rom. 13:3-4).
When you are hurt, it is right for you to want justice. But, we must seek the Lord’s justice and not our own. First, we need to be merciful. “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (Jas. 2:13). We must always extend forgiveness when asked. Second, we must be advocates for those being wronged. We must bear witness against injustices. When the laws of God are broken, we bring the guilty before the church. When the laws of man are broken, we bring the guilty before the court, and any injustice left unserved God assures us will be carried out in eternity (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10).