The Other Side of the Coin

The news and images coming out of Ukraine over the past month are just heartbreaking and horrific. Stories of rape, torture, death, and almost unimaginable destruction. Millions fleeing from their homes and sometimes killed during their attempts. Faces worn with worry and shock. What else but rage and hatred would cause one nation to so brutally attack another in this way? 

The strong temptation of the Ukrainian populace would be to have a similar hatred for the Russians. This is the dynamic in the Middle East where the various parties continually seek revenge against one another. Hatred is always fueled by further hatred. 

We are often galled by this type of enmity between tribes and peoples in faraway lands; yet, what we see in our political and cultural discourse here at home is merely the other side of the same coin of hate. Those on the “left” complain about the tactics of the “right,” and those on the “right” do the same about the “left.” Many even talk about the potential need to take up arms against the other in order to preserve what they believe are their rights and culture. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’”  These were Jesus’ words in his Sermon on the Mount. And his audience believed them wholeheartedly. Love your fellow Jew, but hate every Gentile, particularly the Romans. And the Romans were easy to hate because they oppressed the Jews in a variety of ways. It is human nature to hate those who oppress us and mistreat us. Yet, what was Jesus’ response to this common belief of the day? 

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? (Matthew 5:44-47)

How does this command mesh with our political culture today? Do we even apply it? Some time ago, I had a conversation with a fellow believer who was complaining about mask mandates, how terrible our president is, and how our election system is totally messed up. When I expressed concern about how many believers are conducting themselves in the midst of these political and cultural wars, he responded, “Well, I’m going to speak the truth!” His tone was one of extreme frustration and anger, and I believe it wouldn’t take much to convert it into hate. 

I am sure none of us would consider ourselves capable of the committing the atrocities of war, but Jesus never spelled out the scale of hatred. Just as he equated thoughts of lust with actual adultery,  he also equates thoughts of hate with murder. In other words, our attitudes of hate are equivalent to actions of hate. 

What I see happening with many believers is a burgeoning anger taking hold toward their perceived enemies. There is no blood in the streets (yet) as are flowing in Ukraine, but this anger is increasingly growing into hate. The questions I pose are these:

·      What are we to do with the command of Jesus to love our enemies in light of our cultural context? 

·      What will our anger and hate in the end accomplish for the Kingdom? Will it persuade our enemies to our side? 

·      If we are to be different from the world, how will our anger and hate facilitate that?

I understand how fraught with difficulty our present culture is. I do understand why people are angry and appalled at some of the things going on. Yet, what will make us different if we respond in kind to the unbelievers in our midst—trashing them, canceling them, screaming at them? We can couch our anger and hate to be some form of righteousness, but Jesus draws a bright red line when it comes to hating people as much as sin. 

The reality is that our Enemy is pleased whether our hatred is only in our minds or whether it is acted out in some form. It is the same to him. Jesus calls us to a much different path or a totally different coin if you will. And it is one that he already took—laying down his life for his enemies. 

There are stories coming out of Ukraine where believers are not only assisting their fellow citizens, but also some Russian soldiers. One colleague in ministry shared the story of a pastor helping a lost Russian soldier find food and water. Doctors are operating on wounded Russian soldiers rather than letting them suffer and perhaps die. And one more example is of some Ukrainian refugees in Amsterdam singing praise to Jesus. Note that they praise Jesus for their freedom, not political freedom, but their freedom in Christ, the promise of the Resurrection. 

Let take a deep and challenging lesson from our oppressed and suffering Ukrainian brothers and sisters: Our devotion to Jesus is the only way to truly find freedom and peace. And loving our enemies will only enhance that.

 © Jim Musser 2022 All Scripture references are from the New International Version, 2011.