Love Thy Enemy? Are you Crazy?

Who says such a crazy thing? "Love thy enemy". These words from the one called Jesus have confounded generations ever since they were first uttered.

Today, few of us believe we have any real "enemies" in our personal lives. Yes - we all know people we consider to be "nasty". They may not be enemies in the true sense of that word - but they are, in our view "toxic". How can we love such people and why would we even want to? A few thoughts to ponder:

1 - Most people see themselves as "the right kind of person" separated from some others, who we believe to be the "wrong kind of person". In order for us to feel good about ourselves, it is necessary to have, in our lives, these "wrong people" or "enemies". We therefore, in a strange way, actually need the "nasty" types, in order to elevate our own status. Perhaps in this sense, we should love the others. For they have contributed to our own sense of self-esteem.

2 - Many of us wrongly believe that "love thy enemy" means we should show compassion to those we disagree with in the hopes of "turning them around" to our way of thinking. I don't believe this is what Jesus had in mind. Instead, he wanted us to listen and appreciate the views of others, even if they are in conflict with our own. In other words - by "loving" people we view as going down the wrong path, we can at least converse with them without violence or hatred. This, of course, is what the world desperately needs today. And what it has always needed.

3 - Another take on "Love thy enemy" is to have it reflect back on us. Or, to put it another way, "treat others as you would treat yourself". If we want to be loved - and let's face it - we most certainly do, then by loving those we view as "undesirable" - perhaps they, if doing the same thing, would similarly show us a degree of love too. 

4 - There is much debate about something called "conditional love" or love which is given only if the other person does what we want. If you buy me a car - then I shall love you. Or worse yet, if you love me, then I will consider loving you. And if you cross me, then I won't love you any more. This is the flawed foundation on which most marriages and relationships are based. But true love, as we all know deep down, does not have any strings attached. "Love thy enemy" is an outlook that does not come with any strings. It's about giving love when love, in the view of some, may not be deserved.

This Easter weekend, whatever your views on God may or may not be - let's think about this thing called love - whether we will hold back on giving it, or whether we will give it freely. Even to those we don't like.

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