27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. – Luke 6:27-31
Few of us would say we have true enemies. This terminology is usually designated for super villains in far away galaxies, not necessarily for us, working in a cubicle, classroom, or conference room. Yet, the truth that Jesus is driving home here is still very much meant for me and you, regardless of a comic book style super villain. Our personalities and sin nature lends itself to conflict, both of our fault and of others – our enemies.
For the past six months I have struggled in my own life with this. While I am hesitant to call anyone an enemy, there are certainly people who I have felt wounded by. Such is life. Countless times, I have written something meant to expose and wound such people with a deserved retribution. After all, when someone is designated as an enemy, this by default makes you the hero, right? I mean, no one faults Batman for fighting crime. In the eyes of many in Gotham, he is justified.
The challenge of Jesus doesn’t promise us justification, but healing. His Way shows us that the evil in them is the same evil in us. It is a tough pill to swallow that my enemy is as me – a broken sigh towards heaven. Perhaps this is why He commands us to lavish our enemy with grace and gift. He knows this same grace will then return to us in another relationship. In my own experience, I have realized that every time I was in front of my computer, or in a conversation with another wounded soul, I was tempted to let my pain have a louder voice than the grace given to me.
Your hurt has a voice, it needs to speak.
It is important that I state this: your pain must speak. We see well-meaning people go to the opposite extreme in silencing the wrong that has been done to them. This is not what Christ is saying. He is always pro-healing and redemption. What we must be aware of is our need to hurt and not help. There is a loop of hurt that will continue if we let it. We must stand in the gap between the innocent and the enemies in this world. Yet, attacking those who have hurt us only causes more division. Perhaps even more importantly, this only wounds us further. No amount of retribution or payback ever brings healing, only the grace of letting go and forgiving can do this.
And this is the upside down world of Christ
to shower those who are least deserving with the best of us
and the best of Him
Matt simon blog 