Turn the Other Cheek: The Misleading Christian Response to Religious Persecution and Violence in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

Christians in northern Nigeria suffer horrendous persecution in the forms of physical and social injustices from Fulani tribesmen, Islamic Fulani political elites, and other various jihadists who are, whether actively or passively, supported by the current government administration. Guided by the misleading interpretation of the teaching of Jesus Christ referred to as “turn the other cheek,” Christians are taught to accept such physical and social injustices with total submission and silence. In this article, we have investigated whether this teaching of Jesus really means that Christians should accept physical and social injustice in silence and acquiescence. We have also recast “turn the other cheek” with a better way for Christians to respond to persecution and social injustice.