Representing Christ

God’s command to love our enemies can seem like bitter, distasteful medicine. But like the castor oil I had to swallow in my youth, it is medicine that heals.

Jesus states very clearly: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43-44, NKJV).

Was Jesus contradicting the law here? Not at all. He was reversing the spirit of flesh that had entered the law. At that time, Jews loved only other Jews. A Jew wasn’t to shake hands with a Gentile or even allow his robe to swish against an outsider’s clothing. Yet, this was not the spirit of the holy law instructing: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you” (Proverbs 25:21-22).

We can hate the immoral actions of those in government. We can hate the sins of homosexuals, abortionists, and all Christ despisers. But the Lord commands us to love them as people—people for whom Jesus died—and he commands us to pray for them. If at any time I despise a person rather than the principle behind that person, I am not truly representing Christ.

I witnessed a homosexual parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Two hundred and fifty thousand people marched, many half-nude and some carrying signs proclaiming, “God is Gay.” I also witnessed them break ranks and jump on Christians carrying signs that read “God HATES Your Sin—But He Loves You.”

I blushed with hot anger. I felt like calling down Sodom-like fire upon them. But in reflection, I said to my heart, “I am like the disciples who wanted to call down fire and consume those who rejected Jesus.”

Love your enemies! Love those in-your-face militant sinners! Pray for them! Bless them that curse you! That is exactly what Jesus said. So do it!