love your enemies
A church in Australia has attracted attention by putting up a sign that says, Jesus Loves Osama. John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, is none too pleased. "The prayer priority of the church on this occasion could have been elsewhere," Howard said.
To be sure, it would be much easier to focus our prayers elsewhere. But for Christians, if we want to take seriously Jesus's own command, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," then Osama bin Laden needs our prayers. More importantly, we need to pray for Osama.
Will prayer really make a difference?
Once there was a man named Saul. Saul hated Christianity and everything it stood for. But while he was traveling from Jerusalem to Damascus one day, he saw a blinding light and heard Jesus speak to him. His entire life was transformed. After being an enemy of Christianity, Saul -- renamed Paul -- became one of its greatest advocates. Did the early Christians pray for Saul before his conversion experience? We can't know. If they did, their prayers weren't recorded.
What we do know is that for centuries the early Christians prayed for the salvation of the Roman Emperor. Then, some time after the year 300, Constantine saw a vision of the cross the day before a major battle, and later made Christianity the official religion of Rome. (Whether that was a good thing or bad, I think, is up for debate.)
If Osama bin Laden ever sees a vision and becomes a follower of Christ, the world would be a better place. But I can't imaginge it ever happening, and I doubt I am alone in that skepticism.
But why is that? Is it because we no longer believe in the power of God to change lives? Do we think some people are beyond redemption? Is hatred a stronger force in our world than love?
What if we really made an effort to love our enemies, and to pray for those who would harm us? What if we lived as if love were stronger than hate? Could we change the world?
Labels: peace
posted by BruceA @ 10:13 PM
9 comments
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9 Comments:
At an interfaith prayer service after 9/11/01, I prayed for the terrorists responsible for the attacks, for their penitence and forgiveness, and that they might find a merciful Church.
One participant was quite unhappy with my prayer.
Perhaps we've forgotten something.
At an interfaith prayer service after 9/11/01, I prayed for the terrorists responsible for the attacks, for their penitence and forgiveness, and that they might find a merciful Church.
One participant was quite unhappy with my prayer.
Perhaps we've forgotten something.
At an interfaith prayer service after 9/11/01, I prayed for the terrorists responsible for the attacks, for their penitence and forgiveness, and that they might find a merciful Church.
One participant was quite unhappy with my prayer.
Perhaps we've forgotten something.
At an interfaith prayer service after 9/11/01, I prayed for the terrorists responsible for the attacks, for their penitence and forgiveness, and that they might find a merciful Church.
One participant was quite unhappy with my prayer.
Perhaps we've forgotten something.
That would seem to be precisely the occasion to direct prayer that way.
It is so much easier to pray for your enemies when you don't have any.
Wow! A very unique and powerful post. Thanks for sharing that.
I just surfed in from hithernyon and found you by tracing links between blogs. I don't speak up on strange blogs too often, but this post is like a powerful rushing wind filling my lungs with fresh air. I need to say thanks for offering this important message. I hope many others see it and find conviction in it like I have.
Many blessings...
Against the backdrop of 9-11 I do not doubt the sincerity of those who pray for their "Enemies." What I do find questionable is the sincerity of those who pray for their "enemies." I am not impressed by those who at a comfortable distance pray for an "enemy" who has with evil and malice put their hands on a man or woman or child and damaged or even destroyed them. When the person doing the praying is actually someone who knows a man or a woman or a child who has been damaged and even destroyed, when this is the person praying for their "Enemy," it is much more believable. I do not find it easy to pray for the Enemy. My insides recoil at the thought. I would much rather watch them stare out of the windows of a skyscraper or a airplane powerless to do anything as destruction rushes at them. You see at heart I do not easily forgive evil or evil doers. And I have very little use for those for whose forgiveness is expressed without any real grasp of the reality that demands it. Sincerely. OOM.
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You said that we can't know if the early Christians prayed for Saul because such prayers weren't recorded. In fact, Stephen's last words, before, "Receive my spirit," were "Father, don't hold this sin against them." Of course, the "them" included Saul, who seems to have been the leader of the bunch.
Stephen prayed for Saul as Saul killed him.
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I pray that Bin Laden and the others will be recovered and to devour the evil angels.
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