Application
Seeing the
necessity of applying Jesus’ teachings to our lives, what are we to take away
from this sermon? There are innumerable possible applications but let me humbly
suggest three:
1. Firstly, and most simply: use social media wisely. The
measure of anonymity that the internet affords leads it become a place where
people feel safe to express their opinions. This is a great thing however, as
we all know, it also is a place to unleash all sorts of hatred with little
threat of retribution. In our online (and offline) lives, when we have been
wronged, attacked, or harassed, often our initial response is to lash out. The
perceived anonymity of the internet makes it easy to respond in hatred to
faceless people and nebulous social groups in ways we would never do in public.
Please, as brothers and sisters in Christ, do not use social media to
perpetuate hatred or return insults. This leads me to my next suggestion.
2. Take time to meet your enemy. It is so easy to reduce a
person or people group when you don’t know them. I’m not saying that it will
easy or pleasant but how are we to love our enemies if we never see them or
spend time with them? In addition, spending time around your enemies allows you
to better understand their perspective and seek solutions. Their actions may
still be misguided, hurtful, or evil but perhaps you can see how they got to he
point they are at. Seek opportunities to take action and remedy issues. For
example, if poverty or other economic issues seem to be leading to community
discord, seek ways to help alleviate as many underlying issues as you can.
Remember though that these efforts may never be appreciated by those you intend
to help and that they alone cannot change a human heart --- only Christ can set
men and women free from death.
3. Lastly (and firstly), we can pray. This is what Jesus
emphasizes most heavily. If our enemy’s primary actions are acts of evil, our
primary objective is to pray for those who hate and persecute us. It is far too
easy to write off those who do evil acts as unredeemable. This abjures us of
responsibility to engage with and pray for them. We so quickly forget that we
were once like them: lost and opposed to the Lord. By His mercy, God sought us
out and brought us into His fold. We did nothing and can do nothing to deserve it. In the same way, we lift up our
enemies, not for a speedy punishment, but that the Holy Spirit might enlighten
their hearts that they may too become adopted into God’s family of saints, once
rejected, now accepted. Prayer both inclines the ear of the Lord and tunes our
heart to the beat of His. What we pray for, we care for.
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