“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6: 27-28 (NASB)
Agape love my enemies? Unconditionally love your enemies regardless of circumstances? Pray for those who mistreat me? Actually take my precious time to think about those who curse me? God, huh?
So growing up in the church, we learned the infamous expression “turn the other cheek” early in life. I took the saying literally as a child. I thought, cool, if someone hits me in the face, I will turn and allow them to slap me again. How humble of me! But I didn’t get into fights so this was going to be easy breezy.
Sike…
As a growing Christian, I have now seen that this verse requires me to be more active than I originally thought. Throughout the process of this entire presidential election, police shootings and other occurrences, I have been saddened by so many things and this command that Jesus gives seems increasingly impossible.
I’ve experienced persecution because of my faith.
I’ve experienced hate because of my skin color.
I’ve experienced animosity because of my gender.
When I see another innocent black man become a hashtag, I do not want to love. When I see guilty police officers not charged, I do not want to pray for their souls. When I see neo nazi groups chanting racists and degrading insults, I do not want to forgive. When I see Christians chastised for professing that Jesus is the truth, I do not want them to be blessed. Honestly, it’s during times that these when I want to scream N.W.A’s police anthem. I want to be mean. I want to be quick to speak with anger. I want to use my use my words to hurt those who hurt me. I want to clapback.
Here’s why I’m choosing to deny my wants:
- Obedience.
When I made the choice to place Christ as Lord of my life, I understood that it meant that I would have to follow His commandments…all of them. Loving, praying and blessing our enemies is something that He commands. I cannot pick and choose which commandment I want to follow when it’s convenient for me. I am sacrificing my wants for what God wants. Being obedient to God allows me to be free of constant negativity and hate by choosing to love instead.
2. Prayer is powerful.
Do I no longer wish for my enemies to know God and be changed by Him because they have wronged me? NO. I believe that God changes the heart of man. By sincerely praying for those that wrong me, I am acknowledging that it is not me who can change the situation, but God. He is in control. I cannot control their actions but I can control mine. My action of prayer can lead to change. The prayers of the righteous avails.
3. Kill them with Kindness
We’ve heard this so many times and I am a witness that it works. But so many times I am not kind out of sincerity, but really pettiness. I lowkey thrive off of the drama. Imagine if the kindness was displayed from a place of genuineness. Perhaps that can create an opportunity for the Gospel. We as believers can explain or encourage that the only way we are capable to continue to show kindness is through the strength we find in Christ.
4. They will know us by our love.
John 13:35 says that the world will know we are followers of Christ by our love. Not by our anger. Not by our seclusion. Not by our fleshly reactions to persecution, but by our love. We have been given the love of God to share with others, believers and non-believers, friends and foes. We completely ruin our witness and efforts of showing people back to the cross when we do not love.
Social media highlights so much hatred surrounding our communities and the last thing I want to do is pray for someone who intentionally wronged me. This commandment is a challenging one, but it is a commandment nonetheless. We are the choices we make. Choose obedience, prayer and love. You have a helper (the Holy Spirit) to assist in your choices. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to love in the midst of hate. Agape.
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