Robert's Reflections
February 18, 2001

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A Slap?

She was hysterical: screaming, crying and babbling incoherently.He tried to calm her; to reassure her that everything would be alright. But after over a minute of trying to soothe her fears and helping her regain her composure, he slapped her hard across tht face. Shock and surprise registered in her eyes, but she instantly settled down and came to her senses.

Someone cries out in anger, "Appalling, uncalled for, unacceptably behavior". And under nomal circumstances they would be correct.  In fact, I'm not sure that such would ever be appropriate, except in the movies, where we have always seen this sort of thing.

The question I want to raise is why did he slap her? The answered might vary, but would basically go something like this: "To get her attention," "She was out of control," "She needed it to help her come back to sanity." We aren't talking about abusive behavior. Some men would use this reasoning trying to justify "slapping their wives around". (Any such brute beast does not deserve to have a wife or anyone else around them.) While I am not trying to justify such drastic action as slapping someone, there is a valid point to be made.

If someone is in immediate danger, then tact, diplomacy, and courtesy are out of place and potentially deadly. If a child is running into the street after a ball, and a car is coming, what would you do? You would not be gentle and quiet. You would not use psychology. You would warn the child of the danger, and in no uncertain terms.

Jude 1:21-23 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire , hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. " In Acts chapter eight Peter said to Simon, "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. " (Verse 23). Peter was not very polite, was he?

The point is clear; desperate situations call for drastic measures. A soul is at stake, whenever sin is involved. There is danger and certain death. Therefore one's attention must be gained so that a warning might be given. A figurative slap can be helpful..... sometimes.

Robert