Love your enemies

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…^[1]

…if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink…[2]

The instruction concerning enemies must have sounded as strange to the ears of people in the first century as it does to us today. More than a few have endeavoured to demonstrate the impracticality this command. Some with time on their hands might seek solace in the eternally long poem of Alexander Pope, from which I have extracted a very short quotation:

To what base Ends, and by what abject Ways,

 Are Mortals urg’d thro’ Sacred Lust of praise!

 Ah ne’er so dire a Thirst of Glory boast,

 Nor in the Critick let the Man be lost!

 Good-Nature and Good-Sense must ever join;

 To err is Humane; to Forgive, Divine.[3]

It would be against God’s nature to burden believers with impossible demands. “No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.”[4] Some of the difficulty connected to loving and treating enemies well, maybe that we do not look at the whole situation. To love your enemies is not natural; in what way could human nature be changed to make it natural to love enemies? To a somewhat similar question Jesus responded, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”[5] If I with God’s help were able to elevate my spiritual nature and follow its course would that circumvent my human nature? The short quotation from Romans above has been taken out of context so that it aligns with Jesus’ statement. The full context follows:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.[6]

“…you will heap burning coals on their heads.” This is a much debated phrase; some commentators suggest “divine punishment” is meant. Some look to an Egyptian ritual in which a person showed his repentance by carrying a pan of burning charcoal on his head. Some point out the source of Paul’s quotation as, “If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.”[7] An explanation put forward by a very few commentators suggests, “A deed of benevolence (giving live coals to those in need)”

This might well be an occasion to invoke, “Occam’s Razor” - “Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily.” Or, in its modern concise form “keep it simple”. The general theme of the paragraph is kindness and love, and the victory of doing good. It would be inconsistent to require believers to love their enemies, and as an incentive to do so, point out that their love will bring pain upon those enemies. Paul earlier quoted God saying, “Vengeance is mine, and retribution…”[8] I can’t reconcile the notions of loving your enemies and doing good to them, so that they will be worse off because you did. I don’t know if heaping coals on your enemies’ heads can be satisfied by the explanation of providing live coals for them to use, but, at least it fits the context a whole lot better than being gleeful over their increased suffering.

There is perhaps another idea which may fit into the context of Paul’s writing. We need to focus on ourselves and the command for us to love our enemies. Two things we must notice; one is that the injunction of Jesus does not include anything about the impact on our enemies. Secondly, the passage quoted by Paul from Proverbs includes, “and the LORD will reward you.” From the context which is more likely to be rewarded, kindness, or causing pain? The concluding sentence of Paul’s instruction is, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Taking it as the summary of the paragraph, it is the principle that must govern our behaviour. It is a principle, a guideline for living. Overcoming evil with good, doesn’t suggest satisfaction at another’s suffering. What I get from Paul’s writing is that I am to focus on positives, I am to love, and I am not to be distracted by vengeance. God has claimed vengeance, and the right to judge and punish. In exercising love and kindness I glorify God, and show grace and love in my life. I honour God by not taking upon myself that which he has claimed as his right. The burning coals to me expresses that God is doing his job and allowing me to do mine. The assurance that God will do whatever is necessary, if accepted, permits me to get on with what I have to do –and that is to love.

Corrupt governments, child murderers and molesters, terrorist organizations, civil wars, and the like. People who commit such despicable heinous acts give up the right to be called human, they are worse than ravenous animals. It would seem that no individual could love such evil people, but for some it is easier to be magnanimous to cruel and bloodthirsty terrorists than to their next-door neighbour. As the adage says, “hate the sin, but love the sinner”; that may just be a copout. My first observation would be that I’m not sure the creeps I’ve listed would have been the kind of enemies that believers in the first century were told to love. I would think their enemies would likely have been a cranky neighbour or a domineering boss. An enemy might also have been someone to whom they owed money, or, someone guilty of slandering them, or a neighbour whose livestock trampled their gardens. I’m inclined to believe that the murderous people and groups listed fall within God’s bailiwick. That God is the avenger is comforting to any who witness injustice.

My second observation is that the love we are to show our enemies, is God’s love. God’s love goes beyond friendship or affection and may not even include familiarity or friendship. We are to love our enemies because God has loved us. We did not, and do not, deserve God’s love. We are to love our enemies even when they don’t want, deserve, or appreciate our love. As children of God we must have his nature, and his nature is love. Believers are people through whom the love of God is extended to any and all. It may be reasonable to withhold affection or friendship from someone who is mean or miserable, but you cannot withhold love. Believers recognize the awfulness of being separated from God in eternity. When God’s love is channeled through believers, hope is offered to the hopeless. “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.”[9] Love demands that we put aside animosity and hostility. God’s love is channeled through us to those who have insulted, persecuted, or just annoyed us. Love cannot be institutionalized or programed. It is hosted in individual hearts –from which it flows to others.  

To love in God’s way believers have to relinquish the desire to control situations beyond their scope. A clear line of distinction must be maintained between what I am expected to do, and that which is within the purview of God. This I believe is the first step in being able to love enemies. I can fret and stew about the heinous acts of Mugabe, or the malevolent creep that murdered the five year old girl, but in the end I am the one that becomes embittered and frustrated. On the other hand, accepting those situations will be handled by God, leaves me free of the burden of setting things right. And yes, God is able and will see that justice is done; of that I am sure. One final thought; we must love our enemies, and not make enemies of the ones we love. With the institutionalizing and programming of personal responsibilities, it becomes possible to “love” people, as part of a Church program. We feel pious about what we do for the Church, while at the same time failing to meet family and personal obligations. The parable of the young ladies and oil for their lamps[10] suggests that you can’t give away what you don’t have, or that which is crucial to your spiritual survival. The same applies to family; it is wrong to provide spiritual nurturing to others, at the expense of your family. The home is more important than the Church, and godly parenting more critical than Sunday school programs.

…the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.[11]

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[1] Mat 5:43, 34

[2] Rom 12:20

[3] An Essay on Criticism, by Alexander Pope

[4] 1Co 10:13 

[5] Luke 18:27 

[6] Rom 12:14-21

[7] Pro 25:21, 22

[8] Deut 32:35 

[9] Rom 13:8 

[10] Mat 25:1-12

[11] Hab 2:20 

What you are, where you are.

…let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.[1]

In this section the apostle wrote to Corinthian believers concerning marriage, circumcision, and slavery. His teaching was driven by a sense of urgency; the term qualifying the urgency was “the present distress”[2]. That distress would have included the persecution of believers by Jews and Romans, as well as events associated with the Jewish rebellion and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem. The destruction of the temple in 70 CE was hugely significant since it marked the end of the Jewish age. The temple represented God’s presence among the people of Israel, and its destruction indicated God’s absence. The focus of Paul’s recommendations centered on the instability and cruelty of the time they were about to enter. None of the recommendations of Paul’s warning flow through history as regulations for believers today. However, there is at least one principle that rings true and clear, one that people today need to consider carefully. That principle is, “in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.” A caveat Paul included for slaves was, if they were offered freedom they should take it. His warnings were not meant to prevent people from improving their lives. Paul was burdened by the trials he saw coming upon believers. It is saddening to read of the suffering and torture some early believers endured.

The idea of being called by God, is not common to all Churches, even though it is referred to in apostolic writings. “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”[3] There is a relationship between what Peter wrote regarding believers and what Moses was told to tell the people of Israel; “but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.”[4] The proviso for Israel was “if you obey my voice and keep my covenant.”[5] For believers, being in the kingdom is a gift from God, yes, we have to believe, but it is by grace that we are called into God’s kingdom. Appreciating that we have been called helps us to be confident of our place in that kingdom. “Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”[6] We have been called out of darkness into God’s marvelous light to proclaim all that he has done in love. God is not capricious seeking to take back what he has given. God’s love is as strong as ever, it is his nature. Peter addressed a concern that some had in early times writing, the Lord, “is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.”[7] We live in a different times to those first believers, yet may have similar concerns; when it comes to God’s love we have the same assurance. God loves us and wants us to be secure in his kingdom; he’s paid way too much to let his investments slip away. We have a responsibility to believe so that we can proclaim God’s grace in and through our lives. We need to give up being religious in order to earn a place in God’s kingdom. We are in it, we don’t deserve it, but we’ve got it, because God loves us. Now, we have to show it! Every day, who we are, where we are.

I don’t know all the ways in which God calls people, but judging from ancient times I expect it may be similar to what Elijah experienced:

…behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing.[8]

A thin small voice, or a gentle whisper; it was not the tumultuous violent demonstration of power, but a gentle comfort that alerted Elijah to God’s presence. God the Creator is all-powerful, yet his approach to people is gentle and loving. Jeremiah foretold a time in which God would replace the old covenant with a new covenant;

…this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.[9]

We don’t know how God writes on our hearts, but we know he does. His calling us into his kingdom will be such that we attribute it to some particular event or circumstance, or maybe go unnoticed in the passage of time. However God accomplishes that which he promised is really not the issue; we need to know that we are wanted and called by God into his family. I have difficulty recognizing any call in my life; my introduction to believers was the result of wanting to go out in the evening as my older sister did. I wanted to go out and have fun with my friends, but my parents said I could stay out late only if I went with my sister. I guess at the time that was preferable to staying home.

The most important feature of being called is not the ability to identify a voice, an event, or even a time, but to acknowledging that God through Jesus reached out to us, offering hope and love. I have no idea when or how I was called by God, maybe it was in the crucifixion of Jesus, maybe through my dad’s advice, or maybe some sermon I actually listened to. It really doesn’t matter to me if I know the how; what impresses me is knowing why. Recognizing that God loves me, and wants me in his family is comforting beyond words. My only wish is that I had realized this decades ago. In the light of God’s message in Jesus the Church may be an obstruction to people seeking to simply belong to God’s family. I don’t believe that the Church began with the intention of hindering people’s relationship with God, but in many cases that has happened. No matter how good or well-planned Church programs are they are no substitute for the teaching of Jesus. Too often Church teachings feature the doctrines of a Church and are biased toward its plans and programs. The effort and devotion to Church is misplaced and must be focused on Jesus. The Church depends on its members to support its infrastructure and programs. We need to understand that God doesn’t need human planning, or financing, to accomplish his plan. Jesus gave advice on what to do with wealth; give to the poor. There is nowhere in Jesus’ teaching that I’m aware of, suggesting believers to put their money into structures or programs. As a Church member or a believer at large, one’s relationship with God is personal.

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.[10]

My initial response to being called by God is denial, supported by a number of thoughts that come to mind; why me? It’s not logical! What would God want with me? I’m not sure it’s theologically sound. How can I measure up? Haven’t I made too many mistakes? I really don’t want to change! I don’t need to include more, but you likely have a few you could add –not that I want to know what they are. We either feel self-sufficient or too bad to accept that God would call us into his kingdom. Maybe the supposed responsibilities of being a citizen in God’s kingdom are too daunting. As I write I see a pattern played out in a number of situations where, fear, self-loathing, blaming, or pride are at the base of our decision-making. Somewhere between the extremes we find acceptance; the point at which we are willing to submit to God’s love and grace. That God calls us into his kingdom is really no big deal; he sent his son into the world to be sacrificed. Our relationship with God the Father will be enhanced when instead of looking at the Bible as a textbook for religion we acknowledge it as a love story. The Bible is a library of different records, by different people, unified by a common purpose –the revelation of God’s love.

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[1] 1Co 7:17-24 (ESV)

[2] 1Co 7:26

[3] 1Pe 2:9 

[4] Exo 19:6 

[5] Exo 19:5

[6] Heb 4:16 

[7] 2Pe 3:9 

[8] 1Ki 19:11 

[9] Jer 31:33, 34

[10] 2Pe 1:2-8 (NRSV)