"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:27–31 (RSV)
It is a mistake if one thinks that Christians are whimpering weaklings, afraid of standing up for themselves, sheepishly taking whatever abuse the world chooses to heap on them.
The thugs and bullies of our race will point to a passage such as this from St. Luke as evidence that Christians have to take whatever they choose to dish out. This is false in every way. A follower of Jesus is not a helpless, frail creature cowering from anyone stronger than they are.
It takes strength and courage to love those who would do you harm. A person who is confident in the presence and justice of God can do good rather than evil to their bitterest foe. Those who stand in the Lord will receive the violence some would dole out to allow the love of Christ within them to soften the hearts of the abuser.
A Christian will receive the blows of the wicked to protect the helpless and innocent. As Jesus bore the cross to confront the power of sin and death, we in the same humble strength He displayed will confront those who would harm. A faithful follower of Jesus will not stand idly by while an abusive person attempts to inflict their rage on a weaker, more vulnerable person. They will intervene, receiving the violence themselves for the sake of others.
Thus, we will love our enemies but not become their enemies. We will do good to those who hate but never return hatred to them. We will pray for those who would abuse the weak but not allow them to abuse. We will feed our enemies and offer them our material goods, hoping it will soften their hearts.
Theirs is the power of a world that is passing away. We have the authority of He who has redeemed the world by confronting the world's evil with His own life. Though the world and the devil thought they had crushed Jesus, His rising from the grave has undone them.
We stand in all humility in the power of He who has conquered the world. We stand in the strong love of God through His Son.