Jan 12, 2020
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“When we begin to lead the Christian life, all our labor, all our struggle [podvig] is directed towards accepting even our enemies with love…We do not think about how to change the world with our own powers. We strive to receive strength from God in order to act at all times with love.”
~Archimandite Sophrony of Essex
(Image via OCN)
Love Beyond Convenience
The Call That Shapes the Heart As the Day Ends As the day settles and the noise begins to fade, I find myself reflecting on one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). These are not words we naturally gravitate toward. They confront something deep within us. It is easy to love those who love us, to greet those who affirm…
Before the Altar, On the Road to Peace
A Day in the Life “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23–24 There are moments in the life of Jesus that unsettle us not because they are unclear, but because they are painfully clear. Matthew…
Just Making Noise
“Love, and love is all we have left, you argue because you can’t accept, that love is all we have left…” Bono, U2
Where do we see genuine, deeply felt and expressed love for each other, the “other” being any human being whose path we cross, whose speech we hear, whose post we read? It seems largely absent.
There is such darkness enveloping all of us in this day and age. An angry tone, vitriol in our “conversations”, mistrust, name-calling, cancel culture, pride and arrogance, certainty that we are right and above reproach while “they” are ignorant, misleading, moronic, evil. We are enemies living in one nation, and not under God. Where is the love?
We were made for love. I believe it is the center of what it means to be human. Psychiatrist Dr Curt Thomson writes that “we are born into the world looking for someone looking for us.” We want to be seen, valued, loved. Yet looking around, it would be hard to make a case for this. It seems more than anything we want to be right, respected, better that the “other”. We don’t truly listen to each other. We label each other. We’ve lost our curiosity to understand and know each other. We seem to be on our toes, just waiting to be offended so we can be swift and lethal in our response. We easily justify going into attack mode. In my opinion I don’t see or hear a lot of difference between what goes on inside and outside the walls of faith communities.
In light of this (my own) perspective of current culture, I want to offer a challenge to those who identify themselves as Christians, believers, the “saved”, but may not actually be following Jesus. Of course, none of us will ever do this perfectly. But is this what we are going hard after? Believing is about what you think to be true. Following Jesus refers to how we actually behave (and remember, in the gospels, Jesus’ invitation was to follow him). We can believe and not follow. We can be a Christian and not follow. We can be “saved” and not follow. The late, brilliant Dallas Williard observed that most Christians don’t actually follow Jesus and his Way because they never intend to. Their faith is more about what happens when they die and less about what they do (follow) while they live. What is our intention when it comes to actually, literally following Jesus?
There is a way to navigate through these times that is truly nonpartisan. The way is the Way of Jesus, revealed in his life and his teaching. Consider a few things found in what we call the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was teaching his disciples- getting them on mission to lead the charge after Jesus was no longer physically with them. Matthew tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountain side and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. This was the classroom. The 107 verses that fully illuminate how we are to live- especially in a diverse, divisive, and hostile time. Let’s remember that what happened to most of Jesus’ disciples was martyrdom, with many other followers being fed to the Lions in the arena. They didn't arm themselves and fight back. They didn't post stinging attacks.
Consider the words of Stephen, the first martyr. As his enemies were casting stones at him, skin being torn off, bones breaking, his concern was not for himself but for the hate-filled throwers of the stones. He prayed: “Father, please do not hold this against them” echoing the words of Jesus on the cross, “Father, forgive them.” That is the way of Jesus. We gauge the conditions of our heart and soul against this invitation to another way of living. I know I fall short!
Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you.” We are to be left-cheek turners, shirt and coat givers, extra mile walkers to those who hate us. At the beginning of his message, he said “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Just as our children take on a good deal of our nature, and look and act like their parents, when we pursue peace, we look like our Father in heaven. This is his nature. What does my speech and my posts reveal about my spiritual parentage? Do I look like my Father?
As Americans, we are free to choose our political views. We are free to vote for whatever candidate we discern is the best. But we are not free to be defined by our politics. We are not free to be angry. We are not free to name-call, dismiss, cancel. We are called to love- even our enemies- those who hate us! A significant politician in Washington who consistently identifies himself as a Christian recently gave a call to arms, urging Christians to “fight back” against the secularization of our culture, and the growing discrimination against Christians. Instead of fighting, how about:
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.
In Washington, there is talk about the “aisle”- reaching across the aisle of political division to find common ground and work for the good of our country- not seeing much of that. For People of the Way of Jesus, we need to reach across every aisle, most of all in our churches, and pursue and embrace love. We are missing a critical opportunity to show an alternate way of living.
Back to the words of Jesus: You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Been angry lately? Called anybody “raca” (probably not- we have different words)? How about “fool”? Maybe not to their faces, but to others, or perhaps just in our thoughts? When we do this, we have strayed from the Way of Jesus.
I tend to agree with Bono. Paul wrote these words 2000 years ago at a time when Christians experienced real persecution:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
When we fail to live in love, we’re just making noise. The beauty of Jesus, his way, his love is lost in the glamour. Love is the most power force in the world, and it’s all we have left.
Walk in Truth and Wait for Justice
As recipients of God’s persistent grace, we are mandated to reflect His character, not react according to our old sin nature. This includes how we handle our enemies—those who hate us, attack us, and slander us. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28; cf. Matt 5:43-48). Elsewhere it…
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Sinere te ab improbis opprimi, Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, ut sis servus ad omnes
Sinere te ab improbis opprimi
Years ago, my mother gave a talk on what it means to be a servant. The Doubter, the Denier, and the Traitor all sat down at the table, and each had their feet washed by their Master. I am pretty good at serving and taking care of myself, my family, and my friends. But Jesus washed the feet of all of his disciples, even those of the one who would betray him. Am I willing to serve the backstabbers,…
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