Mission Possible (5)
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· 9 viewsScripture tells us to "Love our neighbor." But... often many of us are like the Lawyer in the parable of the Good Samaritan -- We want to define our "neighbor" as those whom we like and whom treat us well... But that is not what Jesus means. We are to "Love even our enemies"! Why? Because God does! And because -- like us -- they are a precious creation of God.
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9-11-2001
9-11-2001
Most of us lived through the September 11, 2001 “terrorist attacks” on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center....
When you woke up that morning… When you saw the news… How did you feel?
Did you feel all “puffed up” and full of Love? When you found out that it was Muslim terrorists, did you feel full of love for them?
If we are honest, I think most of us would have to say that we were pretty angry… that we held some hate in our hearts for those terrorists… for those Muslims.... In fact, the US saw a crazy increase in military enlistments! It seemed like everyone wanted to join up… to go get some redemption… there were even private groups of citizens planning to “go hunt them down!”
Innocent people in America began being treated horribly, just because they “looked like” they were from the middle east…
Revenge… vengeance… hate seem to be what drives people the most!
Look at our world today… We have groups from the right and the left — hating each other, simply because they disagree.
And the Church is not innocent in this!!!
We seem eager to live by the mantra: “Love those who agree with you, and hate those who don’t!”
Elections are won by this! Churches have exploded in numbers because of this! Pastors have gained popularity in this exact way!
Consider Andrew Jackson.... the 7th President of the United States… He was one of the most popular presidents ever. In fact, when he left office after serving two terms, he was more popular than when he was first elected!
Why?
— He wasn’t qualified...
— he was orphaned at age 14
— he couldn’t read or write proper English
— he was unrefined, uneducated, and had a violent temper.
— unlike pretty much every other president, he was not from the social aristocracy… he wasn’t wealthy and educated....
There was one thing Jackson was good at though… He was really good at hating!
He hated...
— the Indians…
— the British...
— his political and personal enemies…
Those were all things that made him popular, because they were common enemies of the people!
The political world is no different today is it?
Let’s face it… the things that make a politician “popular” today are the same as they were then…
We vote for the people who love what we love, and hate what we hate… and no one is innocent of this.
But… Is this how the Church — how Christians — are supposed to act?!
NO!!!!
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Once again, Jesus’s words fly in the face of conventional wisdom!
The Israelite community… the Jewish community… in Jesus’s time was consumed by the idea of “revenge”.... I want you to see this:
19 Anyone who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return:
20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; the injury inflicted is the injury to be suffered.
21 One who kills an animal shall make restitution for it; but one who kills a human being shall be put to death.
22 You shall have one law for the alien and for the citizen: for I am the Lord your God.
You see — they misunderstood this passage.... they missed the point.... instead of understanding that this was meant to remind them to treat ALL other people as they wanted to be treated, the Jews took the idea that this meant to take revenge… to destroy their “enemies”… especially when combined with God’s directions to the Israelites in dealing with the Canaanites when they entered the Promised Land.
Does that sound much different then today?
We have people all over the place today, who are operating under the idea that the best course of action is to silence those who do not agree with them, or who they do not agree with!
The whole idea of “reparations” paid to a group simply because of how their ancestors were treated… falls right into this category!
But let me tell you — Revenge will never bring life!
It only brings destruction.
Who knows who Aaron Burr was?
Aaron Burr could have been a great name in American history. He was elected to the US senate and in 1800, he was a candidate for President…
Thomas Jefferson won the election, and Burr became Vice President.
His future was bright… he was liked… he was in office… he could have followed Jefferson into office.... BUT....
He was insulted by another political figure — Alexander Hamilton — and that insult led him to challenge Hamilton to a duel.
On July 11, 1804, the two faced each other… and after the shots were fired, Hamilton lay dead…
Burr had gotten his revenge, but it cost him everything!
He lost his popularity… his wealth… his political career… and he ended up living out his life in poverty, and died alone in a hotel room in New York.
Revenge brings destruction! You cannot live your life operating out of hate and revenge, and still enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;
40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;
41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.
42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
Jesus is saying something pretty powerful here....
— We need to break down this passage —
To get “struck on the cheek” meant to get “back-handed”… it was the ultimate insult....
To get sued… insinuates that it was unwarranted....
Roman soldiers could force you to carry their packs when they were traveling....
The whole idea is that when you are mistreated… you are not to “return the favor”.... do not seek revenge.
I don’t know about you, but it seems like Jesus is giving us another “impossible task”!
I mean… think about it!
How many of you have ever been mistreated by someone?
How many of you… if someone came up and hit you… wouldn’t hit them back?
How many of you would simply willingly agree to carry a 50lbs rucksack for a soldier just because he saw you on the street and demanded you do so?
How many of you would just give someone your belongings, just because they were suing you, even though they had no grounds?
This section of the Sermon on the Mount is the single most difficult part for people — even Christians — to agree with… because It seems impossible…
God specializes in the impossible!
Well… that’s all well and good pastor… but you tell me — How am I supposed to “turn the other cheek”?
— How am I supposed to just give up my things because someone demands them of me?
— How am I supposed to just be “ok” with being mistreated?
Tell me....
(I think we often read this passage, and say the same things to Jesus… Look at what He says)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Do you see why we struggle with this?
Jesus is telling us:
— when people demand of you… love them.
— when people mistreat you… love them.
— when people hate you… love them.
— when people abuse you… love them.
— when people hurt you… love them.
Andrew Jackson confessed that his single toughest battle as a Christian was learning to love his enemies.
This world tells us that we are to hate our enemies… to destroy them… to eliminate those we disagree with… to silence them… to avoid them… to condemn them....
But Jesus says, “Love them.”
Why?
Because God Loves them.
19 We love because he first loved us.
8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
While we were still sinners — while we were His enemies — Christ died for us.... He loved us even though we were enemies, and He loves them, even though they are our enemies....
This is why He tells us to:
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
But How? How do we Pray For… how do we Love… people who persecute us? How do we “turn the other cheek” and love those who hate us?
9 Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.
The Apostle Paul takes it a bit farther saying:
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
John Gill explains — “these ‘burning coals’ have nothing to do with punishment of our enemies… [but rather] the idea that when we show kindness to the people who hate us, they might be ashamed of their cruel ways, respond to godly love, and put their trust in Christ.”
So, How do we do that?
How do we learn to not “repay evil for evil”, especially when that is what the world teaches us to do?
Simple.... Love.
We love them.
It seems impossible, but remember… God specializes in impossible!
We don’t love them as the world loves.... We love them with God’s Love!
We put our heart… our faith… our trust… in God, and let Him deal with the issues… and we simply Love them.
How much simpler is that?
Paul reminds us: “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord”.
We do not have to worry about retribution… God’s got that!
We are free to forgive… forget… and love!
Let me tell you — That is the most freeing thing we can understand! When we do not have to spend our time figuring out how to “get even” with someone… we are free!
Think about it — How much happier… how much more peaceful would your life be if you stopped worrying about how people treat you, and just rest in… and live out God’s agape love?
How much less stress would you have?
When we learn to let go of our pride — of our NEED for retribution — then we are freed to see our enemies through God’s eyes.... through His Love.... and then we realize that they are not EVIL — they are simply BROKEN creatures, just as we were!
Love is more concerned with people and relationships then it is with vengeance.
We must learn to love ALL people, as God Loves them.... WHY?
Because they are all our brothers and sisters.
There is not a single person on this earth that is not our brother or sister.... Why? Because God created EVERYONE!!!
Look at 1 John 4
20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
We cannot share the Love of God… We cannot fulfill our Kingdom Mission… if we do not Love our brothers and sisters.... AND THAT DOES NOT MEAN ONLY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST!
We must Love our enemies also!!!!
We are not allowed to Hate anyone… for any reason!!!
This is why Jesus said:
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
Therefore....
48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Let me give you this suggestion.... Next time someone mistreats you… instead of getting mad…instead of sharing harsh words… instead of gossiping about them… pray for them!
And pray for yourself.
Elizabeth Skoglund, in her book “To Anger, With Love,” shares one of her prayers: “Dear God, you know how I hate this woman. You know I’d only be playing games with you if I ever said I want to like her. I don’t. I thoroughly enjoy hating her, but I can’t be close to you and hold on to hate. So, because of that, I give you the right to love her through me. I ask you for a love I don’t have and can’t produce.”
That is an honest prayer, amen?
That is a prayer that changes lives!
Because that is the prayer that changes us!