Luke 6

One of the greatest differences between Christianity and religions is the way we are called to treat our enemies. We are not called to destroy or even get back at our enemies, but rather to love them. What does that mean?

First of all, do you have an enemy? Someone with a grudge against you, real or perceived? Someone who has tried to hurt you? Someone who is trying to get back at you for something you did or said, real or perceived? Someone who is persecuting you, mocking you, or ridiculing you because of your faith? (Frankly, we probably don’t have enough enemies for this last reason, do we?)

Jesus said that loving those who love us, doing good to those who do good to us, lending to those who can repay — that’s easy, and doing that accrues no credit to our “spiritual account.” Even sinners do that, He said. Christians are called to go beyond that.

Do good to those who hate you.

Don’t retaliate if someone takes your personal property, your dignity, or even infringes on your personal liberty.

Don’t judge. This words comes from a word meaning “to separate.” Whenever we start thinking in terms of “us vs. them,” we are judging. We have separated ourselves from them. We stand in the place of a judge.

Don’t condemn. Don’t judge and sentence someone. What are some sentences we give out? silence? excluding them? the cold shoulder? mean words? refusing to forgive or reconcile?

Forgive. Let them loose. Release them. Set them free from your personal judging and sentencing.

Give. After you stop trying to extract some kind of payment from your enemy, then give to them. Be generous with your love and your mercy.  Jesus promised that with the same measure we use, it will be given back to us.

Jesus calls us hypocrites when we judge and condemn others, because we have even greater sins, greater faults than they do. He tells us to deal with our own faults first before condemning others. And since getting the logs out of our own eyes is a lifelong job, we will never get around to judging others!

So, why are we asked to do good to those who don’t do good to us? to love those who hate us? to forgive those who have wronged us? to let others infringe on our personal rights? That’s a fair question, one with an eternally minded answer.

We are asked to do all these things so we can show the world who our Father is, what His characteristics are, what His nature is like. He is good to all. He extends forgiveness for all who choose to receive it. He judged and sentenced Jesus so He wouldn’t have to judge and sentence us. He sends His rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike. He is merciful.

So we are to be all those things also, so the world can see the Father in us, and turn, and be saved.

Are you up for the challenge?