Loving Enemies
Matthew 5:38-48 - 2-19-17 and then there was
Rev. Gary Shoemaker
Bellingham F.C.C.
Before I start the
sermon, I want you to
think of someone who
has hurt you. Someone
from your past who has
caused you pain. You
may not know or
remember their name,
that's o.k. You may not
want to hold them in
your mind for too long
because it's still painful,
that's also o.k. Got
someone?
I was following a car on
Friday, and when we
came to a stop I was
able to read one of their
bumper stickers. Part
of it was very familiar
some smaller writing
below. The familiar part
was 'Pray for our
Troops'. And I was
thinking, yeah, we need
to remember all troops
in harms way. But then
I read the smaller print.
The whole thing read,
'Pray for our Troops -
especially our
sharpshooters'.
I don't know if there
was an attempt at dark
humor in the message
or not, but I didn't find
any humor in it. It
started me thinking
about God and
Country, God and
America, God and our
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side. And I remembered
that I was preaching on
this text and knew that
I somehow needed to
incorporate that sort of
thinking (God's on our
side, and watch out
cause we're comin' after
you.) And while holding
that popular concept,
wrestle with the
practical application of
what Jesus is asking us
to do.
Because, let's be honest,
this part of the teaching
of Jesus is difficult to
live out. It's difficult for
us to detach ourselves
from the cultural ties
that place such a high
value on sticking up for
ourselves and especially
sticking up for the
American way of life.
But leave it to Jesus to
have the courage to go
there, and then ask us
to follow. And lest we
think that Jesus was
living in a simpler, more
peaceful time.
Remember that he lived
in an occupied territory
that was inhabited by
enemy soldiers. I don't
know about you, but
I've never lived in an
occupied territory
where the other side
had all of the power and
might to keep us from
rising up in resistance.
Jesus knows what he's
talking about and he
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lived that truth and if I dont hate them,
everyday. So, in our I must love them.
modern context, how do
we follow Jesus here? Our current political
climate has highlighted
As far as I know, I dont differences between
have any real enemies. people and groups,
There's no one I wish between family
were dead, and as far as members, between
I know there's no one friends. It has created
who wishes that I was animosity where it
dead. So when Jesus, in didnt exist before. And
that countercultural while I still dont wish
sermon on the mount, anyone ill, I so strongly
says that we should love disagree with some
enemies, that doesnt public statements of
sound too difficult, politicians and
right? I can say I love advocacy groups that at
someone while not times it's hard to
really liking that person, contain my anger and
right? Avoiding them frustration.
helps with the illusion
that I dont hate them, And yet, here comes
Jesus telling me to turn

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the other cheek, to love further into the struggle
my enemies. But I don't than us. People who
want to. There's had much more on the
something deep within line than we do and yet
us that wants to react in resisted violence as the
kind, to hurt when answer.
we've been hurt.
If you have not read
It's easy to hear Jesus any Dr. Kings words
words now as a call to lately, I would urge you
be some kind of holy to turn to his teaching
pushover in the face of on nonviolence. In
evil, when in fact, each particular, a speech he
and all of these delivered to the YMCA/
behaviors are calls to YWCA at the
exhibit great strength University of California
and in turn, build on June 4, 1957 when
strength and resilience he said in speaking of
within us. the need to teach about
nonviolence:
Maybe there's
something we can learn We had to make it
from people who have clear that nonviolent
been thrust much resistance is not a

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method of cowardice. humiliate or defeat the
It does resist. It is not opponent but to win
a method of stagnant his friendship and
passivity and understanding The
deadening aftermath of non-
complacency. The violence is
nonviolent resister is reconciliation and the
just as opposed to the creation of a beloved
evil that he is standing community. It is
against as the violent merely a means to
resister but he resists awaken a sense of
without violence. This shame within the
method is non- oppressor but the end
aggressive physically is reconciliation. The
but strongly aggressive end is redemption.
spiritually. ( p. 12 in The Power of
Nonviolence in A Testament of
Hope: The Essential Writings and
Speeches of Martin Luther King,
And this a little later: Jr., edited by James M.
Washington,)
Another thing that we
had to get over was the I don't know if Dr. King
fact that the had this particular Bible
nonviolent resister passage in mind, but it
does not seek to all comes together. And
yes, it seems to me that
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it takes a great deal the areas of justice and
more strength to turn peace, but for the
the other cheek for the people with whom I so
sake of the ultimate deeply disagree.
redemption of the one
striking than to strike Praying for them is so
back. much more difficult
than not-hating them.
Truth be told, I am of Not-hate is passive;
course nowhere near prayer is far more
there yet. Not even active.
close. But I am taking
in the words of Jesus I dont believe for a
this week in this way. I second that prayer will
am remembering this as change their hearts, as
a sign of strength, not Christians often say in
weakness. their prayers about
others they are trying to
What to do? Well, this not-hate. But I do
blip of a sermonette believe it will likely
from Jesus has change my heart.
convicted me to pray.
Not just for the things I When I pray for
want to see happen in someone, I start to see

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that person as I imagine
God does: as a flawed
human being made in
Gods image. Just like yourself to remember
me.
Praying wont make me light of the suffering so
less convinced of the
rightness of justice, but
it will help me see the
person on the other side
as a real person, not as
someone I want to
defeat. Praying, I think,
will make me work
harder for justice. It will
also likely make my
heart a little softer.
I'm pausing in the
memory of those who
have hurt me.
Now, I want you to
think about that person
who hurt you, allow
the pain however
trivial it may seem in
many others endure.
And at some point,
when you're ready, pray
for them.
When I pray for my
enemies, when I
attempt to love and
understand them, I
really don't expect them
to change, but I expect
that I will be changed.
Not in my convictions,
but in my humanity.
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