I Can Have Enemies

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I used to believe it was OK to have enemies.

Because Jesus said to love them, bless them, pray for them… I kinda took it as permission to collect ‘em.

Like Jesus was saying, “It’s OK to call people or groups of people your enemies.”

But I don’t believe that anymore. I don’t believe it’s OK to collect or have enemies.

Here’s what I mean:

Me considering someone my enemy isn’t OK.

If someone considers me to be their enemy, my job is to love them anyway—but God’s plan isn’t for me to go around labeling or categorizing people as my enemies.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” —Luke 6.27, 28

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5.43-45

 ”Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.” —Romans 12.14, 20

These verses aren’t giving us permission to have enemies any more than they’re giving us permission to hate people, curse people, hurt people, or persecute people.

If they were giving us permission to collect enemies, they’d also be saying things like this…

Do good to those you hate.

Bless those you curse.

Pray for those you hurt and persecute.

But that’s not what these verses are saying.

Instead, they reveal how we are to see everyone: as neighbors.

“There are one kind of people in the world. And if Jesus has anything to say about it, all of them are my neighbors.” —Preston Yancey

Atheists are not my enemy.

Bill Maher is not my enemy.

Muslims are not my enemy.

Liberal voters and politicians are not my enemy.

Homosexuals are not my enemy.

Drug dealers are not my enemy.

Beggars are not my enemy.

Nobody is my enemy.

If I have enemies, it must never be because I call them enemies. It can only be because they have called me their enemy.

I used to believe it was OK to have enemies, but now I don’t. The only categories for followers of Jesus are: friends, family, and neighbors.

If I don’t know how to classify someone, they should automatically get labeled as “neighbor.”

This is what I believe now: I only have friends, family, and neighbors.

This was an unplanned add-on to the series “Stuff I Don’t Believe Anymore.” Check out part 1 “Richer Is Always Better,” part 2 “Success Will Make My Insecurities Go Away,” part 3 “Catholics Aren’t Christian,” and part 4 “URGENT WORLD CHANGER REVIVAL.”