Love Your Enemies

Christ's Message to American Christians

by Roger Hertzler

In Matthew 5:44 Jesus commands us, "Love your enemies." In Matthew 5:39 He tells us to "resist not evil" but rather to turn the other cheek when someone smites us. And in John 18:36 Jesus told Pilate, "My Kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, than would my servants fight...: but now is my kingdom not from hence."

Though literal obedience to this kind of teaching appears unreasonable and unworkable, we find Jesus' disciples reiterating it in the epistles. Paul, for instance writes in the book of Romans:

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:18-21).

For many years after Christ left this earth, His followers strove diligently to obey these commands of their Lord. They were known far and wide as people who would take wrong rather than do wrong to others. They showed love to their enemies and preferred to suffer or even die rather than inflict injury on someone else.

Consistent obedience to these commands, understandably, was never easy to carry out. Eventually Christians began to make excuses and ask questions about whether this teaching really ought to be taken literally. "But what if my enemy attacks my family? May I not seize a weapon to defend them?" "But what if my enemy crosses the border of my country? Shouldn't I take up arms to defend my nation?" "But what if my government asks me to join its military and fight against its ungodly adversaries? Am I not responsible to obey my authorities?"

In response, the church's theologians began to develop complicated ideas (such as the "just war theory") to rationalize how followers of Jesus could be involved in earthly warfare without violating the commands of their Savior.

As Christ's teaching was gradually discarded in favor of human reasoning, the church entered into a compromise that has probably brought more reproach to the name of Jesus than any other since the beginning of Christianity. It is truly staggering to imagine all the wrongs that could have been avoided had Christians everywhere stayed true to Christ's call to love our enemies.

There would have been no bloody crusades in the middle ages in the name of Christ. There would have been no Catholic inquisition in the name of Christ. There would have been no enslavement of the American blacks in the name of Christ. Even Hitler's evil plans would have been thwarted since most of the recruits in his army were people who claimed to be part of the body of Christ.

The commands of Christ regarding the treatment of our enemies are so numerous and so clear that it is hard to see how any Bible-believing Christian could miss them. Yet here in America it is nearly impossible, by looking at Christ's followers, to discern that He said anything at all about loving our enemies. In fact, Christians generally are even more likely than non-Christians to be supportive of military power and action. Christians generally are more likely than non-Christians to champion the right to own weapons to defend ourselves from criminal activity.

What shall we do then? How should we repent from our disobedience to the commands of Christ in this area?

If you are a member of the armed forces of an earthly nation, get out of that position regardless of what it will cost you. Enlist instead in the army of Jesus and begin to fight the good fight of faith, laying hold on eternal life. Pledge your allegiance to Christ's kingdom and commit to obeying its laws, even when they come into conflict with the laws of an earthly kingdom.

Get rid of any carnal weapons that you own for self-defense, and pick up instead the true weapons of our warfare, weapons which are not carnal but are mighty through God. Purpose in your heart that you will love and pray for your enemies rather than fight them, choosing to take wrong yourself rather than inflicting injury on another person.

And through it all, don't forget these encouraging words from our brother Peter: "And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;" (1 Peter 3:13, 14).