LOVE MY ENEMIES?

Psalm 35:13 But I, when they were sick -- I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. 14 I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.

The heart felt emotions above are actually quite unusual, and even unnatural to our inclinations, considering their context. Consider that the psalmist uttered these words on behalf of "those who fight against me", "my pursuers", those "who seek after my life", those who "hid their net for me", those who "dug a pit for my life", those "malicious witnesses" who "rise up", those who "repay me evil for good", those who "rejoiced and gathered" "at my stumbling", those who "gathered together against me", those "wretches" who "tore at me without ceasing, those who "gnash at me with their teeth", those who "hate me without a cause" those who "devise words of deceit".

In light of such affliction and hatred, from obvious enemies, would you respond the way the psalmist did? Would you be praying for them, afflicting your own self with fasting, grieving as if for a friend or brother, lamenting and mourning as if for your mother.

Seems quite unnatural indeed!

His cries and prayers were not all for their well being. He did ask God for judgment upon them. He asked God to contend for him. He even had plans on glorifying God once his enemies were judged. "Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his salvation". But even despite these prayers he still cared for his enemies when they were sick.

We are living in times much like the psalmist. It is becoming increasingly obvious the hatred and affliction that Christians are receiving in our own country. Legislation promoted in this country continues to cut at biblical principles. Would you pray for the designers of such legislation, if they fell sick, as if they were your friend, brother, or even your mother?

Praying for God's Justice concerning our enemies is easy, but it seems to go against the grain of our human nature to pray for their well being.

Let us pray for God's Justice, but let us also heed the words of our Lord Jesus who said, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Why? "So that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven."

HOW WELL IS YOUR PERCEPTION?

Acts 23:6 Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial." 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Paul perceived! What do you perceive about your antagonists? How did Paul perceive? How can we perceive? Answering this question is the theme of this post.

So how can we "perceive"?

1. Perception can come through reading Scripture. This should be our main source. Your antagonists/enemies, are shown very clearly there. David talks a lot about his enemies in the Psalms. That's a good place to start.

2. Read books that expose the heresies of the enemies of God. There are many good books exposing the many heresies we face today. Kingdom of the Cults is one of the classics. It is one that has in recent years been updated to reflect the current heresies being faced by the church. Ask your pastor or godly men you respect in the faith to suggest other books or even Web sites that offer the same information.

3. Talk with Christian brothers and sisters who have, first hand, experience dealing with such heresies. Much can be learned from those who have been and still are on the front lines. One suggestion for where such first hand info could be found is James White's Web site, http://aomin.org.

4. This last idea is very important. Do not assume you know the enemy you are dealing with without first listening to them (face to face or through media sources), before talking with them. Remember the enemies of God are everywhere - they are your neighbors, your co-workers, your family. A good listening ear will win more people than jumping to conclusions and bible thumping a stereotype of your own imagination.

The bottom line: we must be prepared. We are soldiers. Paul told Timothy,

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."