Tag Archives: Loving our Enemies

Enemies to Friends

Ordinary Time

February 19, 2022

Scripture Reading:
Luke 6:27-38

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. –Luke 6:27-31

I wrote about this scripture last week. I do not know if I recorded the same scripture in two different places or if the creators of the lectionary thought it so important it listed it twice. The scripture is crucial to living as Christ wishes us to live.

What is an enemy and who are our enemies?

Strong’s Concordance describes the word enemy used in this scripture as properly, an enemy; someone openly hostile (at enmity), animated by deep-seated hatred. implies irreconcilable hostility, proceeding out of a “personal” hatred bent on inflicting harm*.

I must say I do not think of others as enemies. Only a few times in my life have I ever felt threatened by anyone who intended me physical harm. Enemies in my world are generally people who feel I am in their way toward attaining an outcome they desire. Isn’t that the purpose of most people we tag with the title enemy? Years ago, a child was brought to the Children’s hospital where I work from her school in severe pain which was quickly diagnosed as acute appendicitis. The school had been unable to contact her mother as she had no phone. Her mother lived in a sordid, dangerous place dubbed Sandtown by locals who avoided it like the plague. I was tasked to go find the girl’s mother and bring her back to the hospital. Having just moved to Oklahoma City, I had no idea where or what Sandtown was. I got the address and when I turned down the street, I needed to travel to reach the mother’s home, I was stopped by rough-looking men who rocked the front of my car demanding to know what I was doing in their community. I told them what my mission was, and they lowered their voices giving me direction to the mother’s house. I found the mother and as we drove by that welcoming committee on our way to the hospital, they waved us on wishing us well.

I am not sure most of us know what drives our desires. Vicious dogs often have been routinely beaten. Most people long for acceptance not knowing what in their lives made them feel unaccepted. Others know only too well why they are mistreated. As Christ-followers we are called to love one another even those who do not love themselves or us. When I got back to the hospital people were stunned that I even went there without a police escort. If i had known what it was, I am not sure I would have gone, but I am glad I did.

Sun Tzu is credited with the phrase “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” He was an ancient Chinese general.  His works focus much more on alternatives to battle, such as stratagem, delay, the use of spies and alternatives to war itself, the making and keeping of alliances, the uses of deceit, and a willingness to submit, at least temporarily, to more powerful foes**  I am not sure I agree with all his strategies, but I like the idea of working at making friends of our enemies.

Prayer: Lord, show us ways to heal our relationships with those who struggle against us. Amen.

* https://biblehub.com/greek/2190.htm

**https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United

Loving our Enemies Making them Friends

Living in the Spirit

November 17, 2020

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken. –Ezekiel 34:20-24

As the Body of Christ in the world today, how do we deal with bullies? First, let us get this out of the way. I think Jesus meant it when he said that he was God’s appointed judge. I also think Jesus meant it when he said we are to love our enemies and our neighbors. And Ezekiel is right in warning those taking advantage of others that they will ultimately be judged for those actions.

What I see in our world today are a lot of scared people whose way of life is slipping away from them and they do not know how to stop it. When I have discussed this status with some of these people, they cannot necessarily name the perpetrators.  So, they fall in line with names that really mean nothing to them—socialist, liberals. One of our senators ran an ad that proclaimed socialists and liberals were not Oklahomans. He won. And scared people line up with the principalities and powers because they appear to have found the key to the kingdom. The powerbrokers cast blame on others like people of color and the LGBTQ population as being at fault for the scared people’s dilemma.

I do think we must start by recognizing that all people were made in the image of God and, thus, all people are equal. I worked at a large teaching hospital in the 1970s that was under major renovations. The former parking lot became the ground for a new building. Land purchased a few blocks away was converted into parking space for staff. Prime parking places were reserved next to the hospital for top administrators and all doctors including interns and residents who were mostly young healthy men.   Most of the very essential cleaning staff were women and men over the age of 50 who spent their days on their feet pushing brooms and mops, bending and stretching to sanitize every nook and cranny of rooms and surgical theaters. Several of us raised the issue with the administration. I remember saying that it does not matter how talented a surgeon is if that surgical room is not sanitized properly. The hospital finally provided a bus to transport staff from the distant parking lot. Most people in our nation today are as essential as those cleaning staff who work hard every day and have a right to be respected for the contribution they make to the wellbeing of our society.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see the importance of all your children in our work to make a better world. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Despising the Wicked

Epiphany

January 29, 2020

Scripture Reading:
Psalm 15
O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
   Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
   and speak the truth from their heart;
who do not slander with their tongue,
   and do no evil to their friends,
   nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
   but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
who do not lend money at interest,
   and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Psalm 15 continues the theme that the priority of God’s people who hold God in the highest esteem is to love our neighbors and to do what is right, which is the same Hebrew word as justice.

What does it mean in this scripture to despise the wicked? God commands us to love one another, and surely that includes those we deem wicked. Who are we to deem anyone wicked? Jesus got the assignment to judge others. (John 5:22)  Despise means to consider oneself better than another. How does considering oneself better than another help anything? I do not think the act of despising fits the definition of love.

Much of what we know about God’s presumed reaction to evil is filtered through the eyes of the reporter before we read it. For example, I cannot imagine the God that is love ordering all innocent people killed (See 1 Samuel 15:2-3) in a raid.  This I know, I do despise the behavior of certain people because I disapprove of their actions. I guess that means I think my way is indeed better than their way. One of the challenges of doing justice in our world today is to call attention to and try to dismantle the injustice practiced by others and do it while walking humbly with God. Rightness is not self-righteous. All of us called to do justice must do it in the framework of equality of all God’s children.

Prayer: Lord, hold me accountable for any behavior of mine that does not reflect your love even when I disagree and am working to change the behavior of another. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Becoming One

Living in the Spirit
October 13, 2017

Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:1-9

 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. –Philippians 4:8-9

I sat at the symphony recently and listened to an exquisite Violin Concerto by Samuel Barber that just made me feel good all over. The scripture above elicits in me a similar feeling of peace and wellbeing. I think that is what Paul intended to do. In the face of all the world aims at us we have the confidence of faith that the God of peace is with us. One of my favorite scriptures is John 16:33, I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!’

Our challenge is not getting dragged into the chaos that surrounds us and still doing all we can to carry out our calling. The advantage of working as the Body of Christ is the synergy that derives from working one with the other. None of us has all the answers. The problems we face demands all the skills and efforts we can muster with the sure and certain knowledge that Christ is with us even when the occasion arises that we mess up. God created lemons and the person who figured out how to make lemonade.

Part of our task is to be inclusive of those who might do us harm for they are God’s children too. Pray for your enemies is not an empty command. Seeking to understand others and offering them opportunities for positive output exploring common ground may be our greatest work.

 Prayer: God of Might and Miracles move among us and make us one as you are one. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.