Love and Hate
Can love work today? Can it overpower our enemies and turn hatred around?
“But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back." - Luke 6:27-38
I would like to believe that what Jesus commands of us can come to pass, but will it be effective?
Is it a strategy for success or for failure?
When someone hates you and wants to destroy you, should you let them?
Granted that there is no credit in loving those who love you, for forgiving those who forgive you.
The problem we have is that we are taught to hate. From a young age, we learn that power and strength protect our freedoms. The enemy, whoever that may be at the time, is the one who wants to destroy us, to take away our freedoms and enslave us.
No way!
So, where is the love?
Until we see that the enemy is us, at times, we will never be able to love anyone who opposes us.
The key word here is "us".
We act as a body, a people, not as individuals. If I can show love, maybe you can, too.
But I can't stop wars.
Can I?
More to come...