Andy McIlvainPraying for Our Enemies (Even the Taliban)
There is nothing perhaps in the Christian life so difficult as praying for our enemies, those who would slaughter us.
Evil seems to run unhindered in our world but our view is very limited and we really have no idea what has preceded, or ill happen and the actions and motives in the spiritual realm are well beyond our cognitive abilities.
The sudden fall of Afghanistan has many upset and rightly so. The sentiment that America has failed somehow is no doubt correct and at the same time complicated. America's reasons for going to war in Afghanistan are to be questioned, but that is history now.
Nation building has always been a fantasy of great empires and we are no exception. We think we are more powerful and more righteous than we truly are. The treasure of time, the trillion dollars, the training, and the altered and lost American lives can never be changed. The thought that because the U.S. has withdrawn in the way we have that the men who died or were permanently crippled are dishonored is unfair and not correct.
Those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for all of us and the Afghan people are heroes and are to be honored.
So we now look at the situation there and know that great evil and atrocities will no doubt be committed. What can we as American Christians do?
Our living Lord who saved those that murdered him has an ongoing message of loving our enemies. The Word of God demonstrates over and over the power in praying for others, their safety and well being, praying for divine justice and evil will be stopped. Even as you and I pray to our Lord the person of the Holy Spirit and countless divine beings are at work in that nation and in the hearts and minds of not only Christians but The Taliban.
However distasteful it may be we must pray for their eternal souls.
Romans 12;19-21
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
God's cup of wrath continues to fill up and once it overflows we will see his wrath upon all will full sinners and those who practice evil. Prayers for divine justice against evil is seen frequently in the book of Psalms as David flees Saul as one example. But this is our last resort as we always pray that those like the Taliban will be saved and meet Christ.
We all were once enemies of God. Now we must pray for those who oppose him that will come to know our Lord yet if not that ultimately will meet his justice.