Love for hate

Jesus said, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you” (Luke 6:27-28).

Paul said, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14).
Why does God tell me to do that? Why does God want me to resist hating others, to not retaliate when someone harms me and even go beyond self-defense and actually bless them?

Jesus did it. While He condemned their sin and called them hypocrites, as His enemies nailed Him to the cross He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Stephen, a young Christian man did it when he was killed by those who hated his words about Jesus and their sin. As they stoned Him, “He was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’” (Acts 7:59-60).

While the Old Testament clearly establishes that God hates sin and has power to deal with sinners, Psalm 2 and other passages also say that He is not threatened by those who mock Him. He knows what to do with them and knows the end of those who think they will win by cursing Him and persecuting His people.

Yet I am still amazed and even mystified by the heart of God. He asks me to love my enemies because that is what He does. These are the words of Jesus.

But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:39-48)

In North America, human rights laws and enforcement isn’t that popular for a few reasons, but it does protect the people of God from being harmed by physical persecution. It is unlikely that anyone will stone a Christian to death for preaching the gospel.

However, God’s people around the world are not so fortunate. I’ve heard that as many as several hundred a day die because others do not like the fact of their Christian claim to love and follow Jesus Christ. Why anyone would hate us for loving Jesus is both bewildering and incredible, but even more amazing is that God asks us to be like Him by loving and blessing those who do it.