Defining Enemy In The Bible
The bible has plenty to say about enemies and how to deal with them. Leviticus 19:16 says, “You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Proverbs 24:17-18 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and be displeased, and turn away his wrath from him.” This establishes the idea that Christians are to treat their enemies with love and mercy, even though they may be their enemies.
In the New Testament, Jesus took the idea of loving your enemies to a new level. He said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28). Jesus’ words are clear: love your enemies, no matter what and no matter who they are. This is the ultimate challenge for Christians – to go against instinct and in some cases, to pay a heavy price for it.
The Christian Perspective
From a Christian perspective, enemies are those who deliberately oppose one’s beliefs or interests. The bible defines them as “those who practice wickedness, who plot evil and devise wicked plans” and those who “lie in wait to entrap” (Psalm 37:12 and Proverbs 24:15). Enemies can take many forms, such as individuals, nations, ideologies, and forces of nature.
A Christian is commanded to love all enemies regardless of their form or stature. Christians are to recognize that despite their differences, all people are made in the image of God and so deserve compassion and mercy. To succeed in loving our enemies, we need to be mindful to stay focused on what truly matters: the spiritual and the eternal.
The Cost Of Loving Our Enemies
The Bible does not deny the cost of loving our enemies. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us, and so too will Christians pay a cost for loving their enemies. For instance, a Christian may have to face ridicule and verbal attacks when dealing with an enemy, or in some cases, physical persecution.
The Bible also warns that loving our enemies can cause division and conflict within families. In Luke 14, Jesus tells a parable about a man who paid a high price for loving his enemies – not only did he suffer public humiliation, but he also alienated his own family.
These examples put in perspective the serious cost of loving our enemies in a hostile world.
Justice vs. Mercy and Compassion
When it comes to loving our enemies, it is important to distinguish between justice and mercy and compassion. While justice is necessary and must be sought, it is not always necessary to seek revenge.
Love and mercy are key elements of justice since they seek to promote peace and unity between enemies, rather than hatred and animosity. And compassion rests on the hope that enemies can be reconciled in the end.
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Forgiveness and reconciliation are the ultimate means to loving one’s enemies. The Bible is clear about this: not only should we forgive and grant our enemies compassion, but we should also seek to reconcile with them (Luke 14:33).
This does not mean that we have to be close friends with our enemies; it simply means that we should seek to coexist peacefully with them. This can be difficult as it requires us to set aside our pride and our anger and embrace non-violent, non-aggressive methods of peace-making.
Finding Strength In God
Loving our enemies can be overwhelming, especially in a world that is filled with hatred and violence. But we can be confident in the knowledge that God will strengthen us and give us the inner-strength to reach out and love our enemies.
The Bible speaks of the power of God’s love to purify even our enemies (Psalm 51:13). When we turn our eyes towards God, we can be reminded of his capacity to bring light and life even in the most difficult of situations.
Seeing Enemies In A New Light
Loving our enemies can be difficult, especially when we think of them in a negative light. However, if we choose to look beyond hostility and animosity, we can often find common ground and even friendship.
Often, what separates enemies is simply a difference of perspective. When we come together in dialogue, we can often find different approaches to finding peaceful solutions. We can also acknowledge the differences in opinion and respect how each perspective contributes to the broader community.
Putting Faith Into Action
The Bible does not just speak of loving our enemies in words, but it also calls us to action. We must put our faith in God and our love for God into action by actively engaging in peacemaking and reconciliation. We must be proactive in seeking peace rather than allowing hostility to reign.
The Bible also stresses the importance of a lifestyle of hospitality – hospitality towards strangers, the poor and the marginalised, and even to our enemies. We must show our enemies that we are willing to forgive them and to welcome them into our lives.
Building Bridges Of Reconciliation
The Bible also calls us to build bridges of reconciliation between believers and unbelievers, between different denominations and even between different countries. It instructs us to be peacemakers and to actively seek out ways to bring peace and unity.
It is through this bridge building that we can truly show our enemies the love of God. Even the most difficult of enemies can be reconciled through God’s love and mercy. We must be humble and patient in our efforts to build bridges of love and understanding.
Stepping Into Dialogue
Loving our enemies often starts with establishing dialogue and communication with them. The Bible stresses the importance of speaking truthfully and respectfully, as well as listening with humility and patience.
When we step into dialogue with an enemy, there is often an opportunity for us to show them love which may be the start of a healing process for both parties. Seeking to understand our enemies and what motivates them to act can help us build trusting relationships with them.
Empathy And Compassion
The Bible also encourages us to show empathy and compassion to our enemies. Jesus was clear that we should be humble and kind even when our enemies are hostile and unkind.
We can also show our enemies compassion in practical ways. We can provide them with resources and support and we can be there for them when they need us. While it is important to stand our ground and stick to our beliefs, it is also important that we recognize our enemies’ humanity and treat them with dignity.
Turning To Prayer
Finally, the Bible instructs us to seek solace in prayer when dealing with enemies. Praying for our enemies empowers us to place our trust in God – to leave our enemies in God’s hands and to allow God to work out the situation for the good of both parties.
Prayer is essential for the Christian life – it helps us remain connected with God and it reminds us that loving our enemies is not easy but it is possible with God’s help.
Living A Life Of Purity
In order to overcome our enemies, we must live lives of purity – lives free from evil and malice. We must value the truth, along with kindness and respect for others. The Bible instructs us to “love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength and with all our mind” (Deuteronomy 6:5) and to “love our neighbors as ourselves” (Matthew 22:39).
When we commit to living by these guidelines, and to showing our enemies the same mercy and grace that God has shown us, then loving our enemies can become a natural part of our way of life.
Serving Our Enemies
When we feel called to serve our enemies, it is often in a very practical way. We can help them out of difficult situations or provide them with a listening ear in moments of need.
It is also important to keep in mind that sometimes “serving” our enemies entails nothing more than simply being there for them or simply being patient and understanding.
Unconditional Love
Finally, it is important to remember that the Bible reminds us that true love for our enemies is unconditional. We must not judge them or punish them for their mistakes, but rather show them the same love that God has shown us.
It is also important to keep in mind that when we love our enemies, it often means sacrificing our own desires and even our own safety. We must trust that in the end, God’s love will be worth it.
