Wow, what a time we live in right now, and what a timely topic: enemies. The bible tells us to love them. I certainly don't want to downplay that essential command, but I do want to give the idea of enemies a closer look.
In the extreme sense of the word, enemies wage war - a physical battle with life and death consequences. In peacetime and comfortable culture, and certainly in these times of heightened anxiety, our enemies can be more contrived and personal. Out of our fear and insecurity, we tend to blame and shame others, often exaggerating cause and effects. We need a villain. Our enemies don't accidentally appear. We make them!
Inflamed emotions mix with lazy thinking (generalizations), and lead to negative assumptions that infect our interpersonal relationships and taint our notions about distant people - ironically, whom we don't even know. The sad result can be a self-centered personal and cultural strife (tribalism), with all the negativity that comes with it.
Our present reality in this exhausting, toxic political climate is being called a culture war. It's worsened by this isolating pandemic, social unrest and people who fan the flames of division to achieve selfish goals. I believe our biggest imperative right now is not to agree on everything, but instead to somehow turn down the thermostat and learn how to be civil again. And to do that, we need to identify our real enemy.
First let's take a step back.
The scriptures say we are ALL made in His image. That means all of God's created beings are relational - and connected, even though some aren't yet at a place of saving grace. Sin damaged our relating, but it did not disconnect us from each other. Relationship is in our creation DNA, and it is certainly our best earthly common ground.
I think it's all too easy for us believers to look at our sin in our rearview mirror and our earthly brothers and sisters in that view as well. We create an "us versus them" separation, where pride invades our hearts. But "for the grace of God go I." How we think of and how we relate to our "enemies" cannot only cause struggle, strife and even hatred, but it can render our witness ineffective. We not only get in our own way, tragically, we get in God's as well!
Our human bonds are frayed - but still are connected!
And linked by this: "For we all like sheep have gone astray". Would any good father disown his prodigal child, as the siblings wanted? No! In the biblical story, the father still welcomes his son with open arms, even after the other son complains about him squandering the inheritance. It appears that his father's long-suffering faith and support is what enabled his son to make his way home, and reconnect with his family. Vilifying his son would have prevented the completion of his change of heart (his repentance). I believe this humble and loving, God-centered view of our human brothers and sisters is an essential first step in helping to ease our divisions.
I know, I know, we all love our doctrine. But to what end? Or what is its service? How can we assume the best about and for people when they are not acting in a way we agree with? Maybe we start by putting people before our list of grievances. That does not dilute our own convictions, but it certainly can help clear our head of ignorant assumptions and clear a path back home, just like the prodigal son. It's so humbling to think someone's path back could go through me and you!
We really are in this together.
One thing I am convinced about - we must seek real conversations with our "enemies" (not online drive-by rants), and really listen to their personal stories! Our stories are our real cultural currency. We are all the sum of our storied parts--still in progress and influenced by the Holy Spirit in real time. Our Lord is inviting us to be more involved in others’ lives! He is entreating us to love - this biggest and best commandment.
And this: we really cannot affect change in someone without their permission. It's basic trust.
Here is my personal list of "rules of engagement" (no I am not very good at this yet):
Take the initiative (it takes courage), but be gentle
Look for common ground (it's there, look for it early on)
Be polite and show humility
Listen more than talk (I should get my turn to speak as I gain their trust)
Share, don't snare (I'm not the judge, just a witness)
Stay opened minded to creative Holy Spirit-inspired solutions
The real enemy? Yes it's the Liar, the enemy of our souls. But his methods can be as deceiving as his lies. His grand and calculated plan is to divide and conquer with emotional isolation. To get us to avoid authentic conversations and settling for lazy and incomplete information.
Romans 13:9-10 ESV
For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
About the Author
Terry is a man in constant motion to explore new horizons. He has a thirst for new places and faces, and a deep love for the natural world - with a weakness for waterfalls and sunsets. All of this venturing out helps to both ground and inspire him, because it opens him up to people, with their vast, collective array of experiences, outlooks and responses.
He finds all of this fascinating and sees that it has encouraged the growth of something crucial in his Christian development: empathy and compassion toward his brothers and sisters on this planet.
