Oct 28 2024 9 mins
The Scripture tells us to love and pray for our enemies. Needless to say, humanly speaking, this is difficult to do, particularly for believers involved in war like what's happening in the Middle East. But even without this kind of violence, most would admit that loving or praying for people we do not like and who we consider opposed to us in some way is, again, challenging to say the least. More likely, we tend to wish they'd get what we think is their just desserts. One thing is clear, though, it is impossible to pray for others while maintaining ill will, especially hatefulness, toward them. Scripture does not say that in loving enemies, who are indeed threatening wrong-doers, we must wink at their indiscretions or approve of sin. No, we trust God to judge right and wrong, and with St. Augustine, we seek to love the sinner even as we hate the sin. On the cross, Jesus said, "Forgive them for they no not what they do," an example of loving and praying for ones others at least would call enemies. What about us? Is it possible to pray, even love, the Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis? Short answer, No, not without the Spirit of God's enablement. But with the God, all things are possible.
#pray #enemies #loveenemies #hamas #hezbollah #Christian