Love Your Enemies

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 

29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 

30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 

33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 

34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 

35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

If we see trials as blessings and part of God’s plan, as his “blessings and woes” say we must, then loving our enemies makes perfect sense.  Though unintentionally, they are blessing us with their persecution.  Pray for them, ask God to change their hearts.  As MLK said, “only love can conquer hate.” That does not mean we should seek out pain or allow enemies to continue to hurt us.  “Love your enemies” is the only phrase in the sermon he repeats, so it must be important.  There is nothing harder to do and if we are truly challenged by an enemy, often the only way to love them is to ask God to give us the strength and courage to do so.

I am convinced that our faith should be apolitical.  Jesus refrained at every turn from being political and we should follow in his footsteps.  However, I can find many great examples of loving enemies in the political realm.  After WWII, the Marshall Plan helped rebuild Germany, Italy and Japan.  When the Chernobyl plant exploded, the US gave technical and humanitarian aid to the Soviet Union.  In 1990, a terrible earthquake struck Iran, killing over 29,000.  The US, Israel, Iraq and Saudi Arabia all offered their assistance.  Fast-forward to 2017, another major quake hit Iran and the US did nothing, citing embargoes in place.  US Citizens were prevented from sending donations to help the victims.  

I understand we want to influence Iran’s behavior, considering their sponsorship of terrorism and intent to build nuclear capabilities.  I believe Ronald Reagan was able to lead the ultimate downfall of the Soviet Union because he treated Gorbachev with such humanity and grace.  The US should find opportunities to show love to the Iranian people while holding the line on the larger, tougher issues.  More importantly, loving enemies works on a personal level.  And that is the only thing that we have control over, the only thing that matters.