There will be many people that come into my life. Some people will love me. Some people won’t take the time to notice I am even alive. Many will notice me briefly, and forget me in a moment. Some will see my life, shake their heads and think “that poor, confused old man”. And, there will be those that hate me because the Holy Spirit lives in me, for I am the “aroma of Christ” according to 2 Corinthians.
None of these people will be an accidental encounter in my life. God has a plan for all of them. Culture and my human tendency says to avoid people that have contempt for me, that I should ignore or reject those that don’t accept me for who I am. Taylor Swift’s advice is the counsel of this age; I should “shake it off”.
The New Testament shares a different, more troubling, perspective for me on the role of the Tony-hating enemies in my life; I am to love them. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48
This “love your enemy” does not appear to be one of those love-them-from-a-distance-in-a-generic-loving-way kind of loves. I am to interact with them, engage them, and demonstrate Jesus to them through my life. “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 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. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6: 27-31. I need to feed my enemy, lend to my enemy without expecting to be repaid, and to love them as I love those that love me. This is crazy when I look at it with human eyes. It is a crazy-love when I see it through the eyes of Jesus.
My venom-spitting enemies are suppose to be a part of my daily life. Preserving my feelings, vulnerabilities, and other self-protecting stuff is not part of the bargain. When I shield myself from interacting with those that don’t accept me I am missing the powerful opportunity to radically love like Jesus loves, to be transformed into His image, and to present Jesus to someone that desperately needs Him.
