Detox the Tar

So, I've been a bit miffed about something recently, but now I'm not feeling so steamed, which means it's probably a good time to write about it.

"Love your Enemy".

I feel like a lot of Christians don't seem to have this on their radar, in their philosophy, on their mind. It's distressing to me. Now, I realize that if you looked at my life on a day to day basis, you could say this is the pot calling the kettle black. Certainly in my graciousness to drivers who may be "in my way" by virtue of their law abiding vehicular habits. And as far as even loving my neighbor, I've got a long, long way to go. But it really does concern me that this doesn't seem to be in the Christian zeitgeist.

Now, I'm not talking about those who practice the Christian religion, and even less am I concerned about those who don't claim any association to Christianity, but to those who claim to be Christian by relationship to Christ and God, I'm a bit surprised. "Love your neighbor" is a popular Christian idea and slogan. That's good. It is what Jesus claimed to be the second greatest commandment. But people have a tendency to give the "neighbor" part of that a short leash. Which I think is why Jesus a bit later identifies one's neighbor as those whom we most despise in his parable of the good Samaritan.

I am not in any shape or form, thought or deed, signing up for this with gusto. Those I despise most are the kind of people for whom we make gallows and prison cells. I find the thought of loving these people to be emotionally and mentally distasteful. Thinking about the pragmatics of it makes my stomach churn and my inner being blanch. But when Jesus said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.", I don't think he was being metaphoric or setting out a hyperbole to make a point. I think he was making a plain and simple command. I can't really ignore that, can I? Distasteful or not, there it is, as plain and simple as it could be. Not only am I to love those who love me (a difficult task) and love my neighbor (a truly problematic task), even more, I must love my enemy (an impossible task). Not at all meaning to have affection for my enemy, that would be unlikely, if not psychological suicide. Affection is mostly an emotion, but love is a movement of will.

One of the things that brought this frustration out in me is the number of disparaging remarks I hear Christians say about Christians who don't think like they do. The ones with different ideals, different ideologies, different doctrines. I understand people are going to disagree. I understand that some viewpoints are going to be closer to the perceived truth or real Truth than others. That's all well and good. There is nothing in any of that reality that constitutes an excuse for failing to love. I don't think disparagement is love, neither Gentle Love nor Tough Love.

As a challenge to myself and to others, I'm going to wrap up my thoughts with this: Many Christians want to know how to love God, how to love others, what they can do to change the world for Christ, what they can do so that people can see and meet Jesus and come to know Christ. Love your enemy, actively. That's just not something anyone does. Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take care of the the outcasts and the people no one looks after, bless those who curse you, pray for those who persecute you, do good to those who hate you, love your enemy. It will have a profound effect.