One of the most counter-cultural things we’re called to do as Christians is to love our enemies. It’s also among the most difficult callings we have.
Jefferson Bethke explains why he tackles this vital topic in his book, It’s Not What You Think
“I devote a lot of time to it. The hard part is I don’t really come down on an exact manual of solutions, because I really think it’s something that has to be led by the Spirit creatively in the moment and in a community context.”
But also, we’re so far on the spectrum of not even really believing that it’s a high value of the Christian faith, that I really argue that no, this is a non-negotiable!
Our attitude toward our enemies isn’t simply just another box to check. It’s at the heart of who we are and how we can be a light to the world.
“When you’re a Jesus follower, one of the main things that makes you stand out is how you love your enemies. And that’s something we have to wrestle with – that Jesus himself modeled that.:
Enemy love is upside down to the world.
“Enemy love is the way to change the world, but no one else is going to think it looks like a victory. That’s just how the Spirit works and that’s how upside-down the nature of the cross is. And we have to step into that.
Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice for others. And while people were saying, you know, you’re the King of the Jews and you can’t even save yourself – in that very moment He had to stay on the cross to save others.
It’s very much these two worlds colliding on how the world uses power and violence and coercion to change the world, and it doesn’t work. Jesus uses love – sacrificial enemy love – to change the world, and it does work.”
