Imago Dei: The Enemy

Imago Dei: The Enemy

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Read

“As for my Christian brethren who regularly quote to me Jesus’ famous saying, “Love your enemies,” my response is that our enemies and God’s enemies are different parties altogether. Jesus meant to love those who steal your girlfriend, cut you off on the road or swindle you in a business deal. But to love those who indiscriminately murder God’s children is an abomination against all that is sacred. Is there a man who is human whose heart is not filled with moral revulsion against terrorists who target a rabbi who feeds the hungry? Would God or Jesus ask me to extend even one morsel of my limited capacity for compassion to fiends rather than saving every last particle for their victims instead?

Could God really be so unreasonable, could Jesus be so cruel, as to ask me to love baby-killers? And would such a God be moral if He did? Could I pray to a God who loves terrorists? Could I find comfort in Him knowing that He offers them comfort as well? No, such a god would be my enemy. He would abide in Hades rather than heaven. And I would be damned before I would worship him. I will accept an eternity in purgatory rather than a moment of celestial bliss shared with these beasts.” Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Reread

Jesus calls us to:

Obey His word (vs 44) instead of twisting it to meet our desires (vs 43) because,

We are sons of the Father (vs 45a).

Our reflection is not like that of the world (vs 46b-47), but crosses every barrier in order that God may be glorified, Jesus may be proclaimed, and people may come to know Him and Savior.

Further, and in support of our series on the Imago Dei, we believe that even our enemies were created in the image of God.

Our enemies are indeed the murderer and the terrorist. But bringing things more closely into our context, our enemies may be those of different:

Religious beliefs

Religious beliefs

Political leanings

Political leanings

Moral and ethical behaviors

Moral and ethical behaviors

Apart from Christ, they are no different than us.

With Christ, they can become just like us...forgiven and forever united to Jesus.

With Christ, they can become just like us...forgiven and forever united to Jesus.

Transition

Conversation with Lindsay on the importance of fighting the fight, but realizing the fight may be different based on who you are talking to.

Some people intentionally hurt you and to them, you may at times need to be aggressive while you continue to fight the fight.

Some people unintentionally hurt you and to them, you always need to be kind, even though you continue to fight for what you believe is right.

How do you know which camp people fall into? YOU LISTEN.

Read

Only when we truly understand what is happening around us can we engage our world intelligently and effectively (and evangelistically). “You can be in the world more fully if you are a critical, thoughtful, insightful reader of the world around you.”

English Standard Version Chapter 17

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’

“So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’”

22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ac 17:22–23). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Quick to listen

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

Why do people believe what they do?

How have they come to their conclusions? How have you come to yours?

Slow to speak

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”

In many cases, speak only when necessary.

Realize that worldly arguments, as amazing as you may make them, will only go so far.

Only the truth which comes from the Word of God can set us free.

What is the truth? The gospel!

Slow to anger

Uncontrolled anger leads to uncontrolled speech. How often do we find ourselves regretting words spoken “in the heat of the moment”!

Psychologists will sometimes claim that emotions, since they are a natural product of the personality, cannot truly be controlled—only suppressed or ignored. But James’s exhortation here (and many similar biblical exhortations) presume differently. Emotions are the product of the entire person; and, by God’s grace and the work of the Spirit, the person can be transformed so as to bring emotions in line with God’s word and will.

Control yourself because human anger does not produce behavior that is pleasing to God.

What about righteous anger?

“The self-reliant anger of man, even when directed against some wrongdoing, fails to recognize that mere human reproach cannot change another person’s heart, and thus it does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Be righteous

Do what God requires of his people. What does God require?

Love one another, with no exceptions, knowing that God will save those he has determined to save and judge those he has determined to judge.

Back to the question posed by the Rabbi

Would God or Jesus ask me to extend even one morsel of my limited capacity for compassion to fiends rather than saving every last particle for their victims instead? YES

Could God really be so unreasonable, could Jesus be so cruel, as to ask me to love baby-killers? YES

And would such a God be moral if He did? YES

Could I pray to a God who loves terrorists? YES

Could I find comfort in Him knowing that He offers them comfort as well? YES

“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”