Frenemies

At night my step-son Drew has been asking for stories. And after camp where my brother Jono was a counselor, he is asking for very specific stories. “DaddyMack, tell me a story about you and uncle Jono!”

So I told him the story where I almost died falling out a treehouse… and Jono just laughed at me.

I told him the story of Jono throwing a Bible at me and splitting my eye open. “Sword of the Word!”

I told him the story of Jono stabbing me in the mouth into the back of my throat with a sword.

I told him the story of lemon wars and spear fights, of punching through windows and through walls. I told him the story of Jono hitting me in the actual face from 100 paces with a spoon… and then fleeing for his life down the street.

I tell all the stories back to back and I think… I don’t actually think we are friends! This is the history you share with an enemy, an arch-nemesis!

But I have to love him, don’t I? Do I? Yes. I guess. I have to love him. He’s my brother.

Real Enemies

Jono and I share the history of enemies… but we aren’t. We’re best friends! (awwww).

But the Bible uses this word “enemy” as if I am, in fact, going to have them for real! Enemies that want to hurt me and will hurt me. Enemies that just want what they want and don’t care if I get hurt on the way.

Jesus said the world hated him and so it would revile us. To the extent that our “godliness” is showing, we will have enemies for the sake of Christ. Because the name of Jesus is offensive and we are stamped with it!

Whether it is personal, whether it is theological, family drama, work politics, school… in this world you will have trouble and sometimes “trouble” has a face and a name and you want to face-punch it!

And this is so real for me...

People who hurt my kids… who hurt my wife… that’s an enemy. Those are the ones I truly want to face punch! Hurt me, fine, I’ve got patience for that. Hurt my family? I have some rage down in here (just ask Jono). It’s there!

This is so real for me right now, it was insanely difficult to preach this week. Why? Because I can’t tell the story of how I learned how to do this… I am in the very midst of trying to figure this out!

Love Your Enemies

Because the Bible says Crazy things about enemies. Jesus said this:

Matthew 5:43–48 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is 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 do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you… you must be perfect.

What? Seriously?

That’s all well and good until someone is in the midst of hurting you! It’s well and good to work through forgiveness in the years that follow, but what about when it is still happening?! Or the hurt from way back when is still hurting! Love them? I am working hard not to murder them! The taking an eyeball thing sounds great!

How can we possibly do that:

We have two incredible examples. Real and raw, of someone loving on an enemy and God doing amazing things through it. We should remember that we hear Luke telling, he is reporting all the facts from many sources… but certainly his primary source is his mentor of many years, Paul the apostle. So it is likely in Luke’s telling we hear Saul/Paul’s own words, even as the next two times this story is told in Acts Paul speaks in the 1st person voice.

We heard the dramatic story of the road to Damascus. In a flash of light, in a voice of the risen Jesus, Saul is transformed. Jesus changes everything.

Ananias Loves His Enemy - Saul

The mission:

Acts 9:10–12 ESV

Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

How clear is God being right now? He gave Ananias a vision. And He gave Saul a vision. And He is telling Ananias that Saul is expecting him, like Uber confirmation, absolute clarity that this is a divine appointment and everyone is confirmed! “Go straight on Straight street to Judas’ house and find Saul. He is expecting you!”

Do this loving thing!

The objection

Acts 9:13–14 ESV

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

Ananias instructs the Lord on why he shouldn’t do it :D. This guy was on his way here to do the same kind of evil he was doing in Jerusalem. Not “long ago” but yesterday! Last week he was dragging men and women out of their homes and into jail. Months ago he helped stone a man to death.

God doesn’t strike Ananias down on the spot (like the last Ananias we read about in Acts). He gives an insanely gracious reply:

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

God reconfirms the call… but kind of soothes Ananias a bit. Oh, don’t worry, life as a “follower of the Way” isn’t going to be any kind of easy for Saul. If it’s justice you want, Saul’s going to suffer.

I would have a lot easier time praying for my enemies if God would answer my prayers this way. “I’m going to save them… and they’re going to suffer SO MUCH for the sake of my name.”

But here is the miracle. Reluctantly or not. Feeling it or not. Persuaded or not by what Saul would suffer for the name of Jesus: Ananias obeyed.

The obedience

Acts 9:17–18 ESV

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;

I picture Ananias reluctant and grudging prayer, praying now for the hated Saul, the persecutor, the harbinger...

And scales fall from Saul’s eyes. Literally, I think, but what a powerful metaphor, the blindness of all kinds, healed in a moment. Saul sees. And seeing, he is ready to be baptized, which is a declaration of saving faith in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Whether or not he felt fondly towards Saul, Ananias acts in love towards Saul… and Saul is saved.

Jesus appeared on the road to Damascus and changed everything. Ananias obeyed, loved on his enemy, and Saul is healed and baptized. And then Saul explodes on to the scene in Damascus!

Acts 9:19–22 ESV

and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Now Saul is the threat he tried to destroy, preaching the name of Jesus, only getting stronger. His old compatriots aren’t happy, this is the threat Saul was sent to stamp out and now he IS the threat.

Acts 9:23–25 ESV

When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Cinematic, harrowing escape by night from the city. Death defying escape. Amazing. And Saul goes back “home” to Jerusalem.

Acts 9:26 ESV

And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

Why are they afraid? How could they not be? Maybe they got a letter that “Saul’s cool now”. But this guy was breathing threats and murder just days ago! He helped killed Stephen right over there! This isn’t distant history to them. The persecution has certainly continued in Saul’s absence, but now the face of persecution is back in person… and he wants to join your church, your secret home church. He wants in to the innermost circle, the disciples.

The church, even what we think of as this “idyllic” early church… even the disciples themselves, they struggled to bring the enemy into their midst and love on him. They were afraid… and so they rejected.

They were afraid… and so they rejected.

Maybe that’s a description of the church, in our brokenness, at all times and in all cultures… certainly ours.

Loving obedience

But Barnabus:

Acts 9:27 ESV

But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

Did Barnabus get a vision? It doesn’t say… but maybe it doesn’t need to. Barnabus means “Son of Encouragement” and he lives up to the name. He tells Saul’s story when Saul can’t or wouldn’t be listened to. He intercedes and creates a place for Saul in the community.

As the church so often does, it has a hard time truly receiving enemies back into their midst. Barnabus leads the way, makes a way. Loves his former enemy so practically. He makes space for Saul… and God uses that so transformatively.

Acts 9:28–31 ESV

So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

What is the ultimate result of (first and foremost) Jesus’ transformation and, as a followup, Ananias and Barnabus loving their enemy?

The church had peace… and was being built up. It multiplied.

Jesus transforms Saul… he invites Ananias and Barnabus to be part of that process. You know what? That’s putting it to nicely. He commands Ananias and Barnabus to be part of that process. You are going to love on Saul, even though his is possibly the most savage enemy you have personally ever had or faced. A man who hated you and yours so much...

Ananias, here is (very specifically) how you are going to love him.

Barnabus, we don’t know if he was told, we just see his actions and the fruit of them. He defends him, he vouches for him, he makes a space in the community for his enemy turned brother.

And they had peace… and they grew… walking the the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I don’t think those words are accidental in any way, they needed both of those things. They are still in the midst of persecution even while inviting the agent of it among them.

Only in the fear of the Lord: God’s in charge...

and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit: he is with me...

In the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Love your Enemies

Love your enemies, Jesus says. Is that optional?

Love your enemies. It isn’t a choice. It isn’t optional.

How do we love our enemies? We don’t always get the Saul who has already had the “Road to Damascus” moment, do we?

We get people who are still in persecution mode? Those in power threatened by the name of Jesus? Those who claim the name of Jesus and should know and do better but all that is coming off them is hurt and anger at you!

How do we love people who are still hurting us?

How do we love them?

How is it possible? Is it possible?

How did Ananias do it?

Reluctantly. With hesitation. With arguing with God. That actually gives me a great deal of comfort. I am in good company there.

Love is a verb. It is action. It is Ananias saying “be healed” whether he felt “fondly” towards Saul yet or not. He obeyed. He prayed. He baptized.

Barnabus defended Saul. Told his story. The “son of encouragement” encouraged Saul when no one else would.

Jesus in his sermon on the mount speaks in the context of the Kingdom of God. This is only possible as the heart is transformed by the King!

How can we love our enemies? Well...

Romans 5:10 ESV

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.

I was an enemy to God. That hurtful… and at times, my actions and behavior, my sins and betrayal are still that hurtful. And yet, even while I was an enemy to God, he gave his Son for me.

As that truth penetrates my heart, I realize the grace extended to me, I am driven, obligated to extend that grace to others.

I am saved by the cross.

How could Ananias even go through the motions of loving Saul? Jesus. He was saved by grace, we see him being shown great grace in the text, and so he is commanded to extend that healing, forgiving grace even to his enemy.

How could Barnabus make space for Saul? He was a sinner saved by grace, I think he had the spiritual gift of grace, and he shows that to Saul.

And I think Jesus gives us a perfect starting point. Pray for them.

Matthew 5:44 ESV

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

I take that as a starting point. Talk to God about them before talking to them.

Pray for your enemies. Grace upon them. Blessings on them. “Bless those who curse you.” Pray for him or her. You know who it is.

However reluctanctly and grudgingly. Be like Ananias, explain your hesitations to God, he’s not fooled anyway. He knows your heart!

But even out of pure obedience, pray for those who have hurt you and even are hurting you.

Praying for their salvation in Christ:

If they are saved, they are saved by the cross… and you can’t improve on that.

If they are not, they are judged by the Lord… and you can’t improve on that!

It starts in prayer: praying for our enemies. For their good, that God would bless them, heal them, save them.

It continues in action. Long before the “warm fuzzies” are there. Jesus’ examples in Matthew 5 are practical actions. Giving the shirt off my back, walking the extra mile, turning the cheek...

We love with our actions long before we love with our emotions.

And this is a struggle. I love the story of Ananias because it shows the struggle… and how much grace God shows us as we fight to love those who are SO HARD to love. Those who have been and are our enemies.

We have the command to love them. We have received that kind of love from him, and we are now super-naturally enabled and empowered to give that kind of love.

I don’t get the option of hating my brother. He’s my brother. I have to love him.

I don’t get the option of hating another child of my Father. I have to love him. “Love your enemies.. then you will sons of your Father who is in heaven.” Because that’s His DNA. That’s His character. That’s His love in you.

It starts in prayer. It continues in action. And that is the kind of love the Kingdom of God is built from.