How to be a virtuous Christian in awkward social situations?

[Ben_Sinner]

I’ve always wondered how one was supposed to react in certain situations without falling into sin.

For example,

If a man is out with his wife and another man starts coming on to her in front of him, for example, might slap her in the butt or make a vulgar sexual innuendo at her…and the husband tells him to stop…but the guy keeps doing it and begins to get aggressive and try to bully him. What is the man to do in that situation?

If he fights him, he will fall into grave sin and possible criminal charges, but if he just says “stop it” or walks away, it would seem that is allowing the bully to control the situation and not get any kind of punishment for what they did.

What would be the ‘right’ thing to do for the man in this situation?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

What you have described is not an “awkward social situation,” it is a crime, assault. Calling the police would be the correct thing to do. Remove oneself and one’s wife to a position of safety. Challenging a criminal to a fistfight is very rarely a wise move, completely aside from ethics. Getting yourself killed is not going to be a good thing for your family.

 

[anon90438963]

I can’t imagine that kind of thing happening anywhere except in a raunchy bar or party. Where ever you were in this situation, never go there again. Stay far away from such company, as I assume your wife will also very much want to do.

 

[AngelusDomini]

If the man in question: state you find their actions intrusive and demeaning and walk away. If somebody outside the situation: walk over and say something like ‘Have you met…?’ And guide them away. In every case: Pray for the person whom is being inappropriate.

 

[MaryT777]

Quickly remove you and your wife away from the premises where this person is. Turn the other cheek and let God take care of justice. Safety first.

 

[LoyalViews]

Handle it easily.

“Excuse me, have you noticed the rings on our fingers? Do you not suppose we might be married?” There’s no contempt or hatred, merely a suggestive phrase.

When I am ever in an awkward situation or perhaps notice one, being a busybody, I intervene politely and say “excuse me, but mightn’t you have notice (fill in the blank)” as a gentle correction.

If it’s criminal, report it to the right people.

 

[1ke]

If a man is out with his wife and another man starts coming on to her in front of him, for example, might slap her in the butt or make a vulgar sexual innuendo at her…and the husband tells him to stop.

I’m not really sure in what universe this is a common social situation. Not this one, for sure.

 

[Ben_Sinner]

People hitting on someone else’s GF/wife is more common than people think.

I’ve never had it happened to me, but I’ve been around when it happened to friends.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I’d physically protect my wife and stop the aggression. And I wouldn’t even need to go to confession after…

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Fighting someone is a grave sin?
Yikes. There are a lot of virtuous Christians in history who may not have known this. Ditto the theists in the bible belt today who own guns.

Why is it a sin to protect and defend someone by fighting?

.

St. John Bosco would agree with you!