Do We Love the Enemies of the Cross?
As we watch the battle for the 10 commandments unfold in Alabama and similar scenes across the nation played out in the cultural war against Christianity, it is difficult to keep the true biblical perspective. I have watched Christians in these types of situations curse those who oppose them and condemn them to hell. I have seen Christians cry out for God to punish their critics and bring swift judgment against their enemies. When ungodly men express such animosity against Christianity and seem to have such power to cause harm, it is tempting to succumb to these same feelings of frustration.
This frustration is not unique to our culture; even the disciples of Jesus struggled with this. When Jesus and His disciples went to enter into a city, those in authority confronted them and refuse to allow them to pass through. The disciples were enraged and wanted Jesus to call down fire from heaven to destroy them like Elijah did in his day. Jesus replied in Luke 19:
55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.
56 "For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them." And they went to another village.
When we look at similar situations in post-Christian America, we can feel the same frustrations. The fight in Alabama has averted the real issue by putting all the focus on Judge Moore rather than admitting that the real problem is an antithesis against God and Christianity. Each time the critics speak, the goal is to paint Moore as a redneck cowboy trying to establish a theocracy. Yet the real problem is with the Christian heritage our state constitutions are founded upon. Take a look at the preamble to Alabama’s Constitution which reads:
“We, the people of the State of Alabama, in order to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution and form of government for the State of Alabama.”
Judge Roy Moore did not write this, it was written when the Alabama state constitution was framed. If our culture is now opposed to this, the attack should be directed at the constitution and not against the judges sworn to protect the constitution. Unfortunately, it is rare to find a judge who will defend the foundation of our government so when one like Judge Moore arises, they become targets to those who despise the God who we once acknowledged. The very mention of God or a Creator is proclaimed as ‘unconstitutional’ by those who have the power to force their godless view on the American culture. This is in spite of the fact that written in ink in our Declaration of Independence is the following statement:
WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
There is no shortage of examples of assaults against Christianity in our modern culture. In the last few years we have seen the FCC attempt to revoke Christian broadcaster’s education licenses; a 150 year tradition of mealtime prayer was banned at the US Naval Academy; the Pledge of Allegiance was banned by our courts because it acknowledges God; a zoning board in Oregon ordered a church to limit worship to 70 members; eminent domain has been used to seize several churches; tax status has been revoked for churches that criticize political leaders and the list goes on and on. How should the Christian respond to these assaults on our faith? What is our role and how do we maintain our light in our culture amidst the increasing hostility against the God of the Bible?
Do Not Fret
I highly encourage each person to read the entire 37th Psalm. It is so rich that it is difficult to leave anything out. Just reading the Psalm will speak volumes that this study can’t fully encompass. Look now at Psalm 37:
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.
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8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret -- it only causes harm.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.
When a Christian forgets that God is in control, it is easy to let frustration set in. Even though the world sometimes appears to be spinning out of control, God is very much in control. The word ‘fret’ means to be hot with anger; to be incensed or to heat ones self with vexation. When a Christian frets, they are tempted to take matters into their own hands rather than trust in God. This does not mean that Christians are passivist, but it does mean that we don’t step outside of God’s will to execute judgment.
An example of this has also been in the news this week. Paul Hill is scheduled to be executed this week for the murder of an abortion doctor and another man at the scene in 1994. Even though abortion is clearly wrong, the Bible does not allow the individual to become an arm of justice. Romans 13 makes it clear that governmental authorities are established by God to execute judgment. The Christian is never given this authority. The Bible also makes it clear that wicked governments are often the judgment of God for people who have rejected Him. It is possible to exercise civil disobedience while at the same time submitting to God and the authorities that He has ordained.
The apostles of Jesus often disobeyed civil authorities when their laws contradicted scripture. However, they also refused to rebel against authority. They made it clear that they could not obey and why they could not obey, but they did not resist arrest or lead any kind of uprising. When Paul was on trial for disobeying the official command not to preach the gospel, he was struck in the face by the high priest who was considered a ruler in Israel. Not knowing who he was, Paul condemned this action and then recanted once he realized he was an authoritative figure. In Acts 23, Paul said,
5 Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ’You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ "
Even though he could not obey, he also made it clear that he was not rebelling against the authority God had ordained. The apostles often used their circumstances to evangelize their captors, not condemn them. There are plenty of evil men that God can use to execute judgment if it is due; it is not for the Christian to stand in this place. We have many examples where God used the wicked to judge the wicked. Keep in mind that both were under condemnation.
The Strength of the Wicked
Romans 13 tells us that all authority is ordained by God and that there is NO authority that does not come from God. The Bible also says:
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.
There will be times when the wicked are in great authority and the godless man will always oppress. Even though people may enter authority thinking they have noble causes, when self-interests or personal ideologies are not being met, oppression is often the tool used to accomplish ambitions. Those in authority rarely acknowledge God’s hand and often adopt an elitist mentality. They arrogantly think of themselves as powerful instead of acknowledging that they are a common man or woman who only occupies a role that is powerful.
From our perspective, we see those in authority as invincible and untouchable. This is especially true when a person of influence uses their power to destroy those who criticize or resist them. Look again at Psalm 37:
35 I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more; Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
I picture a great tree growing in fertile land. It is big, powerful and sturdy with roots that run deep, a trunk that runs high and branches that cover everything around it. Like a strong ruler, it seems immovable and almost indestructible. Yet when God determines the time has come, he will suddenly fall and will be no more. All the influence and all the power in the world cannot preserve the wicked when God calls for his demise. Proverbs 29 also states:
1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
We have no need to take matters into our own hands because we cannot bring down the authority in place anymore than we can advise God on His own plan. So that we understand that our role is not to passively sit by or become complacent, let’s fill in the blanks by looking again at the same passage that commanded us not to fret over the wicked, Psalm 37:
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.
7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Immediately after we are told not to become hot with anger, the following passages continue by saying to trust in the Lord, do good, dwell in the land and feed on God’s faithfulness. Instead of fretting, we are to shift our focus from man to God and delight ourselves in Him and let God be the provider. The Bible has already warned us in Jeremiah 17 that the man who puts his trust in man or makes flesh his strength is cursed. You are under a curse if you think your politicians are going to save you. You are under a curse if you make a spiritual leader into the foundation for your life. God is our provider, deliverer and our Rock of refuge. If we are following the Lord and doing the good works He has placed before us, we will affect the culture around us and by this affect our social and political climate. A Christian should be involved in their community and in their government, but our primary focus should be on sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with the world in our immediate circle of influence.
We are commanded to dwell in the land, not run for the hills. When our nation is departing from God, our call is not to run, but stand firm and follow God. We have the promise that when we commit our way to God, He will bring the good to pass that we seek. You cannot bring anything to pass nor can you change a single life. You can only submit to God and let Him lead you and accomplish His good work through you.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
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28 For the LORD loves justice, And does not forsake His saints; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
We delight ourselves in God (verse 4) and God delights in our way (verse 23). The one who frets and tries to beat his own path is ignoring the direction of God who is ordering our steps and delighting in our lives to bring about good for us and for the culture around us.
Love Your Enemies
This is where the rubber really meets the road for most Christians. This sounds good when we read or recite it, but no one likes the idea of loving our enemies when we actually have to put it into action. When we are living for Christ, we will have enemies. Jesus made the statement, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you”. If those who are living contrary to God are praising you, this should be a red flag. The world hates those who follow truth. The world hates the real Jesus Christ who died for sins and calls men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). The world loves a watered down Jesus who allows them to live in sin and never judges or condemns their actions. Any Christian who lifts Jesus Christ high, will draw fire from the world. Look at an interesting passage in 2 Corinthians 2:
15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.
16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
To those who receive Christ and are being saved, the one who lifts Him high will be a sweet fragrance. However, the one who rejects Christ and chooses to pursue a life leading to destruction will hate the one who lives for Christ because they are an aroma that reminds them of death. You are the smell of death to those who are unwilling to choose life. Each time you lift up a standard of truth, it reminds the perishing world of the choice they are making and they hate to be reminded. Rather than change their direction, they would rather stamp out any remembrance of the destiny they have chosen.
This is why the world hates the true follower of Christ. It is equally important to understand what we should do in response to the hatred targeted against us as the world lashes out against God. Jesus taught our principle response in Luke 6:
26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 " But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29 "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30 "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31 "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
How many Christians really practice this clear teaching of scripture? This goes against everything in our human nature. How can I love and express my love toward someone who is trying to destroy me? I can’t, but the Spirit of God within me produces love, joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control. This is how I know that I am following Christ and that His Spirit is working within me. Even a mature Christian still has human nature jockeying for control, however, we have been given the power to be led by the Spirit instead of submitting to and being driven by our human nature. If my eyes are on Christ, I will deny myself and my human desires and submit to Him.
This past week the governor of Florida has been receiving bullets taped to letters threatening his life if he did not stay the execution of the man who murdered two people outside of an abortion clinic and this came from someone claiming to be a follower of Jesus. Where do you find justification for this in scripture? Not from Jesus. In the Old Testament, King David asked God to judge his enemies and rejoiced in their destruction. People mistakenly think this is justification for hating our enemies. David was the authority God placed over the government of Israel and the enemies were those threatening Israel and God’s people. This does not qualify as a justification for a personal vendetta that gives Christians the right to seek vengeance against their enemies or God’s enemies.
God declared, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay”. It is a sin for Christians to try to execute vengeance on our behalf or God’s behalf. It is also a sin for Christians to ask God to curse or judge their enemies as well. We have been COMMANDED to love our enemies, pray for our enemies and do good to our enemies. It is not a suggestion, it is a command. You do not have the right to ask God to destroy anyone regardless of how ungodly they are.
God said, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” (Ezekiel 33:11). Without Christ, you would be in the same boat as your enemies. The Bible states that if you break one point of the law, you are guilty of breaking them all. Who is not guilty? Jesus stated that the two greatest commandments on which everything else is based is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.
Who has kept either one of these? Do I love God first in my life? How many times have I put God on the back burner because I wanted to be entertained, advance my career or anything that would put me first? Do I really love my neighbor as myself? How much money do I use for my neighbor as opposed to what I spend on myself or personal possessions? The only thing that separates me from my enemy is the mercy and grace of God. I am commanded to pray for my enemy so that he or she can experience that same compassion. Psalm 86 states:
5 For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
The Bible does not say to pray against your enemy, but for them. I should pray for my enemy the same way that I would pray for myself or someone I love. Not only are we commanded to pray, but our love is to be expressed openly. Look at Proverbs 25:
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.
How hard it is to love those who spitefully use you, try to harm you or work tirelessly to destroy your name? Even so, we are commanded to do this very thing. What would happen to our culture if Christians quit shouting condemnations and started expressing the love of Christ through seeking the good of our enemies? In Acts 16, we see that Paul and Silas were beaten and cast into prison. God sent an earthquake that shook the gates open and set them free. The guard who mistreated them saw the gates opened and was about to commit suicide rather than face the penalty of allowing the prisoners to escape. Paul and Silas could have determined that he was deserving of death and this was God’s judgment against the jailer, but instead, they showed compassion to preserve his life. He was moved by this and repented. Paul shared the love of Christ both to the jailer and his family rather than condemnation. This entire family was saved and the jailer washed the wounds on their back from the beating they received.
It is the goodness of God that leads you to repentance and our love is the goodness of God shining through us. We receive our love from God and should actively express that love to others. The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We were enemies of the cross before we were saved from our dead works. Jesus justifies the ungodly and He loved and died for those who were expressing hatred toward Him. We are then called to follow His example. He had a right to despise His enemies but instead shows compassion and love; we do not have a right to despise our enemies because we were once sinners against God and are required to show the same forgiveness to others that God showed to us.
Our resistance is not to fight fire with fire, but become warriors against principalities and wickedness in the spiritual realm. We are warriors of the heart commissioned by God. The battle belongs to God and through our obedience to Christ we are more than conquerors. Romans 8:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
