“If you’re not with me, then you’re my enemy.” - Anakin Skywalker
“Only a Sith deals in absolutes.” - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
My husband and I have discussed the irony of Obi-Wan’s response to Anakin (the future Darth Vader) because it is just as much of an absolute as Anakin’s binary-thinking. But we get the point he’s trying to make: not having room for nuance can have a devastating effect on your worldview, which affects your relationships and actions. As we’ve seen in recent history with assassinations and mass shootings, it can have a devastating impact on the world around us, too.
We have a fairly good idea of why our human tendency leans toward black & white thinking. It’s easier for our overloaded brains to handle. It puts things into neat categories to help us understand the world. It helps us justify our prejudices and predilections. Etcetera, etcetera. But do our religious texts contribute to this as well? Jesus made a couple of statements that seem very binary, although they also seem to contradict each other.
Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with me is against me…”
Mark 9:40 “...for whoever is not against us is for us.”
Which is it? Who is on His side? Or did he make both of these statements to show us that there is nuance and context to situations? I read a commentary (of a commentary from nearly 1,000 years ago) that discusses the context of those passages.(1) This says that the first one I listed is regarding the spiritual world (ideas, angels & demons, etc.), while the second one I listed is about people, especially lay ministers. The commentary believes that that passage shows us that God is biased in favor of people.
I love that. I think Jesus made it very clear that people are not the enemy. He said in Matthew 5: 44-45 - “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in Heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
In our very “Us vs. Them” culture right now, it is just so convenient to blame all of our problems on a person or a group of people. I’m not saying that there aren’t people out there who are causing problems for other people. But I’ve caught myself blaming everything on certain people or groups, and I know I’m not the only one. This mentality taken to its extreme has led to acts of violence.
Fortunately, there is an antidote: love and forgiveness. There is a recent article by David French in the New York Times that brought tears to my eyes.(2) In it, he discusses how the Mormon church responded to the mass shooting: by fundraising support for the family of the shooter. Dang. I’d use a different word but this is a church forum. That is true godly love. He also mentions the forgiveness offered by the widow of a political figure. It makes me think of the love and forgiveness offered to Nazis by Corrie ten Boom. Only God can empower us to give that kind of love. And it is this amazing love of God that redeems the world.
Father God, please remind me daily that humans are not the ultimate enemy. They are all made in Your image and are loved by You. Please help me remember that it is love that conquers evil. Your amazing love died for us, while we were yet enemies of You. Please help us to pass that love on to all around us, even those we see as enemies.
There is one thing that I believe is absolute truth: God loves the world. Everyone in it. Even the Sith.
(1)Bible commentary that I read about the first two passages:
https://www.kencollins.com/answers/question-43.htm
(2)David French article: (you may need a subscription to read the whole thing)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/05/opinion/hope-grace-michigan-shooting.html
About the Author
Jessie is a novice writer, with several books in various stages and a blog about travel and the journeys of women. She is very excited to be a part of the CitySalt blog team. She has been blessed by a few communities of Christian writers that have encouraged her dream. She lives with her sweet husband, Chris, their 5 funny kids, and 1 fluffy cat in Springfield. She loves hiking and other outdoor and indoor adventures with her family.