Love Your Enemy
We are to love and pray for our enemies. But just as all the good principles of the bible, the post modern culture has twisted this simple idea into impossible and impractical forms. Lets look at the scripture:
I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.Mt 5:44
Enemies are still enemies
This means we should treat everyone with respect and even kindness. We should treat them the way we want to be treated. We should pray that one day they will not be our enemies but our friends. It does not mean we should enter into a trusting relationship with the unrepentant or claim them as friends. In fact we are repeatedly warned against befriending and fellowship with the unrepentant.
Whether they claim to be a Christian:
But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 1 Cor 5:11
Or not:
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14.
How do we reconcile that with Jesus eating with sinners? Jesus always confronted all those he was talking to with the truth. He was blunt, often critical, and sometimes hostile. Yes he ate with people that to the world looked to be sinners but who were actually repentant and seeking grace and forgiveness.
And now the world says if we dare appose any agenda or sin that we are being hateful to people and that is not “christian”. We are not being “loving”. What they mean is that we are not being accepting or approving because they have equated those qualities with real love. They call it “unconditional love”. It is true that there is no conditions on God’s love, but he does not accept or approve those he loves. He saves them out of sin and death. He accepts and approves his son and we can only approach the father because of what the son, Jesus, has done for us.
Peace with God Not Men
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace and at his arrival the angels announced peace on earth. This was peace with God, not peace man with man. Jesus said “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth:I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Mt 10:34-36 The truth of man’s inadequecy and his need for forgiveness and submission to God has always been a derisive concept. Still, where it is up to us we should be a peace with everyone but we cannot expect peace from the world (Rm 12:18).
Guard your friends
Friendships are important to God. They are a blessing he has given us. One of the purpose of the church is for us to enjoy fellowship with each other (Act 2:42).
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat:but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecc 4:9-12
We are encourage to make and keep good friends. Much of Pauls letters are dedicated to this subject and Jesus himself called his disciples friends (John 15:15). It is important to treasure our friends as a blessing from God. It is to our benefit to have friends that can keep us accountable and that we trust (Prod 27:17).
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Prov 27:9
Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. Prov 27:9
Conclusion
We are not to make the world our friend or those of the world our friends (James 4:4). We are to be friendly and treat our enemies with biblical, Christ like love (John 15:12): Always telling them the truth without approving or accepting their sin, but sharing the chance of a new life of repentance, forgiveness and abundance. We are to hold our friends dear and work to preserve those friendships that are true and godly.
#expectmore
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