What Jesus said about ... enemies.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5: 44
Now that's a difficult one. What does it really mean?
Let's make it clear that we all have the right, a duty even, to defend ourselves and our loved ones. Sometimes this can be done by distancing ourselves from the ones who hurt us. We can seek professional legal advice and take appropriate action as necessary.
But what if the enemy is a violent person or another nation? There are times when defensive action is necessary to stop the aggressor doing harm to us or our loved ones.
When Christ taught us to love our enemies He did not mean give way to every attack or act of aggression. The Old Testament describes many wars between the Israelites and their enemies. And today, there are instances when a nation has to go to war to stop evil.
So, how do we "love" our enemies as Christ commanded?
There is no way we can do so as Christ did when hanging there from the Cross dying a most agonising death. This is because He was/is God and we are not. So we cannot love as He has done and shown.
But this should not stop us from trying. When we have to face an aggressor let us do so with all the power that we can muster; but let us also do it for the right reasons and with proportionate acceptable force as is necessary. Our opposition need not always be physical; but it can be in argument, debate or through the legal systems. Whatever way is necessary to stop aggression it should be done for the right reasons as intended by Christ.
We all know the story about Jesus and the traders in the temple. When Jesus entered the temple courts, He began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” He said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” - Luke 19:45-46
This story in the Bible is often misunderstood. We see Jesus being violent and beating the money changers and traders out of the temple. His reasons may be obvious by what He said in the passage quoted above; but there is more to it than that.
In those days the people had to offer a sacrifice to God in the form of an unblemished perfect animal. It could be a pair of doves, a lamb, goat or whatever you can afford depending on your wealth and the gravity of your sin. The people gave the animals to the priests who had them slaughtered and made into a burnt offering.
One reason for Christ's behaviour, apart from the quotation above, is that at the time the people brought their own offerings to the priests and the priests had to decide whether the animal was without blemish and perfect. If the priests decided against that animal then the people had to go and buy another (more expensive) one from the traders in the temple. Hence the collusion between the priests and the traders cheating the poor people out of their money by forcing them to buy a more expensive animal from the traders.
Jesus
was angry because instead of the temple being a place of prayers, the
priests and traders had made it into an opportunity to cheat and steal
from the poor.
Turning the other cheek, as Jesus also taught, does not mean surrendering to evil when it comes our way.
An eye for an eye was meant to be a limitation to aggression and retaliation; not an encouragement to seek revenge.
In summary, as best we can, we should "love/forgive" our enemies despite their wrong-doings; but not to the extent where we let them walk all over us. Defensive action is sometimes required and legitimate.
As always, sincere prayers are the answer. Pray to God about the situation you are in and hand over the matter to Him seeking His help and guidance in every case.
If Christ could forgive His enemies; we should at least try to do the same.
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24.
NOTE: This post is part of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDelete...is gambling a sin?
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with "enemies". But yes; I believe that gambling is a sin. Here are my thoughts on this. When you gamble, for you to win it means that someone else will lose. Whether it is the lottery, a card game, or a bet on which horse will win. You have placed some money on the table and you hope you'll win. Your winnings come from all those others who have put money on the table and lost.
DeleteThe Bible does not specifically say that gambling is wrong. But making a quick buck through someone else's misfortune is surely not right - is it? Also, there's that consequences of gambling; leading to addictions, broken relationships, broken marriages, violence and so on.
By the way, if you'll allow me an advert. My latest book "The Bitten Apple Connection" (see right hand margin here) deals with gambling, nightclubs and strip-shows.
There are a lot of "sins" that are not specifically mentioned in the Bible, but the intent behind them is always alluded to in the Commandments. For example; Christ said love one another. By gambling and cheating someone else out of their money is hardly an example of "loving" them.
I hope I have given an answer - of sorts. Please don't hesitate to come back with your views here; or if you wish to write privately at my desk: enquiries@holyvisions.co.uk
God bless, Tom. Thanx for your question.
Another thought Tom ...
ReplyDeleteIn a way, the manner that society works today is based on gambling in one way or another. For example, is putting money in the stock exchange gambling? Is it not a bet that you'll buy some shares in a company and the price of the share will go up? Other forms of investments can be described as gambling, like futures and derivatives.
How about insurance? You bet the company that you will be ill, or your house will be burgled or burnt; and the insurance company bets you that it will not. If the worst happens, the insurance company is paying you out of the premiums that all the other people have paid them.
So, what I'm asking: what is gambling?
Life these days has become one big gamble. "(when I got married, did I consider the mother-in-law as well. But that's another story).
Years ago, our church used to run a small lottery to raise much needed funds. It was not much. You paid £1 per week and could win £100. I was young and impertinent then. I asked the priest: Is that gambling? He explained that it was a small "donation" that people made in order to help the church raise funds. Not many people would buy a £1 ticket to become millionaires. What he was implying is that it is a matter of scale.
Over here in the UK many charities advertise on TV small time lotteries to raise funds - like Cancer research, Heart Disease, Dog Rescue Centres and so on. Now, I believe this is totally wrong (and right). If I wish to help a charity then I just give them my money and expect nothing in return; not to win a small prize. Yet, the charity would say it is right because it is the only way they can get money from an ever more competitive environment where donations to charities have reduced greatly in recent years with the high costs of living and inflation.
Thanx for a good question, Tom. God bless.
Querido amigo, leo mucho la biblia, a veces es difícil amar a quien te daña, pero son hermanos que debemos cuidar y enseñar.
ReplyDeleteTe dejo todo mi cariño y besos, bendiciones.
♥️¸.•*¨)¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´♥️♥️.¸.•´♥️
TRANSLATION: Dear friend, I read the Bible a lot, sometimes it is difficult to love those who harm you, but they are brothers that we must care for and teach.
DeleteI leave you all my love and kisses, blessings.
Thank you El Sentir del Poeta. You are right. We should forgive those who hurt us ... and distance ourselves from them. God bless.
When we sincerely pray for our enemies, it's difficult to hate them, isn't it? There is so much division in our country right now as I assume there is in Great Britain, Victor. Let us make the effort to listen to others without judgment and, perhaps, by doing so, ease those tensions. Blessings, my friend!
ReplyDeleteIndeed, we sincerely pray for our enemies that they might come to see that they are doing wrong; and, as best we can, we forgive them.
DeleteGod bless always, Martha.
It is easier to forgive others when we think about how Jesus forgave his enemies - including the people who had killed Him. Being human it always isn't that easy. I have a person in my life - every day - that tries to get me down - or maybe not try, but does get me down - and I have to pray all the time to forgive.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear of your daily problem Chatty Crone. I am praying for you, and also for that person so that they may come to realise what they are doing. Forgiveness helps too; and trust In God.
DeleteGod bless.
This is such a good series you are doing, Victor. I have often used the rationale in Luke 23:24 because it's true, so many times people don't realize what their offenses to others is really doing, what it really means. Sometimes they just aren't thinking. In those cases, we may have to give them time to figure it out and do our best in the meantime to not make the situation worse.
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara. There are still a number of articles in this series. If there is any topic you would like to see covered please let me know below; or if you prefer, you can write privately at my office: enquiries@holyvisions.co.uk
DeleteJesus set us a good example in the quotation Luke 23:24.
God bless you, Barbara.
We have no idea of how we affect other people. The tone of our voice, the words we choose, play an important role in how relationships are formed and maintained. Relationships are fragile to begin with so we must always consider how we treat others.
ReplyDeleteAs for gambling, I don't gamble. I bet on horses when I was younger and found no fun in it. Great series you got going, Victor.
Thank you for your wise words about relationships, Bill. Well said.
DeleteAs for gambling, I helped our church with the raffle tickets I mentioned above when I was young. Never understood gambling on horses and the different odds offered.
God bless, my friend.
Great post Victor, you explained it clearly.
ReplyDeleteThanx K. God bless.
DeleteThank you for continuing to clean up the muddy waters of my own understanding. Better than most sermons!
ReplyDeleteYou're too kind, Mevely. Thank you so much. God bless always.
DeleteYou used the key, we must keep trying methinks. Yes this is tough to get a grip on and stay sane. But I will try....
ReplyDeleteMany thanx my friend. God bless you and Sherry, Jack.
DeleteLove and kindness always. ❤️
ReplyDeleteGod bless, CM.
DeleteExcellent points. As far as I am concerned, I do not want anyone to be my enemy, or God's, either. They can consider me an enemy, but I'm still going to hold out prayer for them to come to know Christ as Saviour.
ReplyDeleteAmen Mimi. Good point well made.
DeleteGod bless.