“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
July 21, 2023
In the conflict with evil and those who are our enemies we must be on our guard as kingdom citizens. The danger is one of sliding into an unholy hatred of those who are against us to the degree that we are speaking and living God’s truth. We are locked into a struggle with the devil and his battle with God. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you” (Jn. 15:18). Consider the labels in use in our day and the adversarial nature of these labels: Left, right, conservative, liberal, socialists, feminists, homophobia, transphobia, pro-abortion, pro-life. While labels are often useful as a kind of communication shorthand for various worldview opinions, they can carry with them hatred toward opposing viewpoints. Labels can contribute to impersonalization and the desire to see harm come to certain people. Thinking God’s way means loving evil people by desiring what is best for them. This certainly includes their repentance and belief in Christ. At the same time, we have a holy hatred for the evil ways of those who stubbornly reject the gospel. If we love our enemies, we are acting like God. “How much of our thinking and acting and behavior is entirely governed by other people. It is one of the things that make life so wretched.” (Martyn Lloyd-Jones). We are to be salt and light in a sin-laden world by knowing how to love and hate God’s way. Christ is our example in knowing how to relate to evil people. Our deepest desire is to be for God’s honor and glory.
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When we treat others in proportion to the way they treat us, then our life is run by circumstances rather then by the Holy Spirit.