Video from Public Christianity
On Loving Our Enemies Today
Author Karen Armstrong speaks to our roles in the world as a Christian involves doing. Christ was a doer, he loved his enemies.
Leviticus 19:33-34
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
God took special interest in seeing that his people treated foreigners with love and mercy. His rationale was that they too had been strangers and were oppressed in Egypt. They therefore should not treat others in the same way, but should instead bless them and care for them, even treating them as though they were native-born.
This is a wake up call to all of the many Christians who vilify the migrants at our southern border. Most are here to escape terrible situations and make a living.
If we want to follow our Lord we will authentically love those we don't agree with or someone from a foreign land.
Your Lord does not give you the political option of disliking someone because you think they will take your job.
How often do we think badly of people in other countries? Perhaps they have a ruthless evil ruler. But the people are people as are we and want to live a life free of intimidation.
Leviticus tells us to love our enemy as ourselves. Can you will you do as your Lord asks or will you be selfish like the rest of the world?