Love Your Enemy

Last night a group of us discussed Jesus’ challenging words: ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…’

On a different occasion Jesus answered the question, ‘Who is my neighbour?’; I don’t recall him ever answering, ‘Who is my enemy?’.

We talked about war – Gaza, Ukraine, World Wars; we talked about political enemies – particularly US and UK politics; we talked about personal enemies – those we’d fallen out with, or those we found difficult.

The challenge stands: ‘Love your Enemy’.

We talked about avoidance – sometimes it’s easier to keep out of the way of our enemies. We talked about tolerance and respect. Winston Churchill defined a prisoner of war as ‘a man who has tried to kill you and, having failed to kill you, asks you not to kill him’.

Avoidance, tolerance and respect isn’t the same as loving your enemy.  

We recalled the words of Paul:‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. We liked this picture!

The principle may be similar to Oscar Wilde’s words: ‘Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.’

The danger is that the action’s right, but the motive’s wrong. We’re in the battle – right against wrong, justice against injustice, good against evil; St George kills his dragon, but there’s no love.

Musing… If/when I love my enemy…

…I’m changed: Benjamin Franklin said: ‘Love your enemies, for they tell you your faults.’ Friedrich Nietzsche said: ‘Love your enemies because they bring out the best in you.’

…My enemy is changed: Martin Luther King said: ‘Love is the only force capable of turning an enemy into a friend.’

…We reflect God’s love: Jesus’ words continue: ‘…love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.’

…We start to change our world: Paul’s ‘burning coals’ quote continues: ’Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’