Love Your Enemy

What horrific events: beheadings, slaughtering the defenseless, global fighting, in the U.S. the Ferguson tragedy. These events breed anger, hate and a desire for vengeance. But what is a Christian response? 

First, it is the government’s responsibility to provide protection and seek justice. It is the Christian’s duty to be subject to the government. See Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17. Sometimes it is the duty as a citizen to go and fight the enemy, but this is not done out of anger, hate, or vengeance. It is done out of duty to serve God and country.

Second, and dear friends this is the hard part, as a Christian we are called to love our enemies. Jesus said, “you have heard that is was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:43 ESV). Saint Paul says, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God…. To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head’” (Romans 12:19-21).

This should not surprise you, for while we were enemies of God, he saved us through Jesus. Out of love, God saw that you were not beyond hope. Maybe our enemy is not beyond hope either, after all love hopes all things. Loved by God we love even our enemy.