Why Must We Love Our Enemies?

Apart from the fact that Christ commanded us to do so, why should we love those who hate us and despitefully use us? Other belief systems either have no such commandment or, like Islam, expect adherents to avenge their enemies.

Christ gave us the answer to this question in Luke 23:34 (BBE) when he was crucified. "And Jesus said, 'Father, let them have forgiveness, for they have no knowledge of what they are doing.' And they made division of his clothing among them by the decision of chance."

Now some folks will argue that certain people know they're sinning. Romans 1:20 (BBE) does say, "For from the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made, so that men have no reason for wrongdoing:"

That's true but there's also another factor, namely Satan. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:3 and 4 (BBE), "But if our good news is veiled, it is veiled from those who are on the way to destruction: Because the god of this world has made blind the minds of those who have not faith, so that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not be shining on them."

Additionally, sinners are unable to repent of their own accord. Ephesians 2:1 and 2 (BBE) explains, "And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins, In which you were living in the past, after the ways of this present world, doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air, the spirit who is now working in those who go against the purpose of God;"


When Christ said he was the resurrection and the life, it was more than bodily rising from the dead that he meant. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:5 (BBE) about this spiritual resurrection from the deadness of sin. "Even when we were dead through our sins, gave us life together with Christ (by grace you have salvation),"

So we find that sinners are blinded by the Devil and also by their lack of regeneration. Such beings should be pitied, not scorned. They bear the image of God but know nothing about him.

If Christ doesn't come back by Thursday, I hope to post about why we must defend the right of people to worship other gods.