The first draft of this blog was “Enemy or Victim.” I chose the new title thinking it would get more attention. But let’s start with what the Bible says about people who disagree with us.
One of the incredible insights that I get from seeing life through the Bible is that it reduces my enemy list to one. I have only one enemy and that is Satan. Everything that is wrong in the big world and in my small world can be traced back to the ultimate source of evil, Satan. Everyone else that appears to be in my way or causing a problem for me is not the enemy, they are a victim of the enemy. That is why Jesus could say, “Love your enemies and pray for them who spitefully use you.” I can pray for, have compassion on, show love to everyone, no matter how they treat me because it is not them that causes the evil it is Satan.
This is not some Pollyanna view that makes me like everyone. Rather it is a conscious decision to see others who get in my way and sometime hurt me very badly as people of value, creations of God who have been deceived and victimized by Satan. And from that perspective, I can pray for them and treat them with love. (Not perfectly of course but that is the goal).
What has prompted this blog is the current debt ceiling decision. There are real issues involved. Of course, the debt ceiling has to be raised, it is wrong to borrow and not pay back. But beyond that, the United States of America has a real debt problem.
- We owe more than we produce in an entire year.
- We continue to borrow money each year
- All the forecasts show borrowing to increase for the foreseeable future.
- Under current forecast there will never be money to pay back the debt. That is a real problem.
But none of that is getting serious discussion because the people speaking the loudest speak and treat those on the “other” side as enemies, opponents that have to be defeated. And so we are reduced to “kicking the can” instead of real solutions.
Here are four things Christians can do.
1. Leaders who are Christians publicly announce their refusal to speak of or treat anyone as an enemy. It is time for our leaders who claim to be Christians to speak and act in love towards all.
2. Christians stop listening to communication that causes divisions or treats others as enemies. It is time for those who claim to be Christians to realize that a steady diet of Us VS Them input results in an Us VS Them attitude.
3. Christians commit to speaking well of those who disagree with them. Once we get the right attitude then we will say the right things.
4. Christians pray for leaders after the pattern of I Timothy 2 - “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Maybe this one should have been first.
Not everyone will agree with what I have written. If you do disagree with what I have said, I hope that you feel that I have spoken of you with love and respect. And that you will speak of me in the same way.
Bruce
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