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Are Those Who Oppose Jesus, our Enemies? Or Those We’ve Been Sent to Love?
Devotional THought of the Day:
Now while he was at table in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ 12 When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. 13 Go and learn the meaning of the words: Mercy is what pleases me, not sacrifice. And indeed I came to call not the upright, but sinners.’ Matthew 9:10-13 (NJB) 10
869 Those… who see adversaries where there are only brothers, deny with their works the Christianity they profess. (1)
I didn’t want to write this post, but as I see those who trust in Christ respond with what appears to be hatred and a desire for revenge, I can’t be quiet on this one. Not so close to Christmas, Not in view of how God treated those we would consider His enemies, His adversaries.
Don’t we realize that when we react to people, we either testify of God’s love for them, or we deny it? That when we wish evil, or retribution, or pain upon others, when we pray that their business goes down in flames, that they know misfortune, we aren’t loving them the way God loves them, the way He loves us? Don’t we realize the power and the need of the old Lutheran prayer, Lord, turn the hearts of our enemies and adversaries toward You? Don’t we realize the truth of St Josemaria’s comment – that we deny what we profess, when we see these people Christ died for as adversaries, as opposed to those who need to be freed, and for God’s glory to shatter their darkness?
What will it take for us to turn the other cheek, to react the way Stephen did, the way Jesus did? When will we desire that they come to the transformation that God desires for them, that they would realize He would cleanse them of their sin – just as we count on Him to do for us?
Yes, a neighbor wrote a letter to someone complaining about Santa Claus (secular Christmas) and a ton of lights. Yeah, a guy gut suspdended from making money on television, yeah, someone didn’t like how agressive we were quote the Bible, or some religious book. That is no reason to wish them evil, to curse them or raise crusades against them.
Instead, it’s a reason to love them, a reason to pray for them, a reason to be patient with them, and reach out to them. Knowing that God has done the same for us.
We can stop the mad reactions against us… simply by loving them with Christ’s love.
Lord have mercy, and help us to desire what you desires for these our “adversaries”
Whether it is our response ot
(1) Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). Furrow (Kindle Locations 3556-3558). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Merry Christmas, Peace and our “RIghts”
christmas tree (Photo credit: fsse8info)
Devitional Thought of the day:
“As much as possible, and to the utmost of your ability, be at peace with everyone.”. Romans 12:18 (NJB)
3b Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. 4 Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. Philippians 2:3-4 (MSG)
15 But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, 16 but do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15-16a (TEV)
“I hope this post offends as many people as possible: Merry Christmas” – (facebook meme from National Liberty Foundation)
My son has had a number of homework projects recently where he had to determine which thing doesn’t belong with the others. You know, where you have 3 circles and a triangle, or 3 clowns and a cowboy. Look at one of the above statements, does one not belong? Is there one not in harmony with the others?
In recent years, there has been much disagreement about Christmas. Some want to ban the phrase “Merry Christmas”, or get rid of historic public displays, some secular and yes some religious, that focus on Christmas. Others want to protect “their rights” of free speech and their traditions and memories of Christmas. Sometimes these discussions (and the facebook posts that follow) can get a bit vehement, and nasty, like the post above.
Seeing it in the context of scripture, we hear the dissonance, we hear that the author’s “rights” trump the nature of the very Holy Day they say they want to protect. It is sadly ironi.
But is their an obligation for Christians to surrender their rights, not to the government, but out of love for others? Is there an obligation to no react in this way, demanding that we get our way, rather than taking the time to explain the reason for our hope is seen in the fact that God came to dwell with us? To assure us of His love and desire for us to dwell in His presence, even at the cost of the cross? Even at the cost of Christ bearing all our sin? Can we explain these things with gentleness and respect, as we dwell in the peace of Christ we want them to share? Can we forget ourselves and invest our time in those who would oppose Christianity because they haven’t heard why it is good news? Can we love them more than our rights? Can we like the deacon Stephen in the Book of Acts, actually love and bless those who would oppress us? ( I dare not say persecute – because in this country we’ve lost all sense of the concept of Martyrdom)
Or has our “rights” become an idol we need to protect?
Or can we, in love, lay aside our “rights”, in the hope of showing people the love and will of a God who would come to us?
Some tought thoughts, as we look at Christmas during advent. Not as tough as when we realize that people live without the hope we know, and God sends us to them… to bring His love.
Lord have mercy on us, and help us to have a heart like Christ… who put serving those who were lost above His own rights.
Related articles
- Have you been neglecting yourself? (justifiedandsinner.com)
- Augustine, St. Francis, Martin Luther, John Wesley walk into a bar… (justifiedandsinner.com)
