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Loving

            “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

 

            I’ve done this passage too recently, I know. I also know that I’m basically continuing yesterday’s rant. As Christians, we’re commanded to love God, our neighbors as ourselves, one another, and our enemies. Yes, it’s important to define “love” correctly. Agape is a love that deeply desires what is best for the beloved and values the beloved. It does not involve agreeing with the beloved. It does not involve descending upon the beloved and making everything be the way we think is right. It does involve serving them.

            So, we’re coming to election time. We hear talk about how the United States is so divided, and calls for us to lay down our figurative weapons and walk in peace with one another. Sadly, those who say that tend to mean that “the other side” is to lay down its weapons and agree with “us.” That is the only peace they will accept (no matter which side is “us.”) We must be careful with this, because giving someone all they want is not love. Acceptance and tolerance can be and often are less than love. In fact, they may be a form of hatred.

            If we are not praying for our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ, for our neighbors, and for our enemies, we aren’t living as Jesus taught us to live. If we aren’t praying the same things for all our political leaders, no matter what their party, we are not living as we should. How can we ask God to bless us if we’re hating those He commanded us to love?

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