Have you ever noticed how many paradoxes there are in Christianity? A paradox is defined as "a statement that seems to contradict itself but yet expresses a truth". Paul uses several paradoxes to describe his life as an apostle in 2 Corinthians: "beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything". Paul also describes the life of Christ using a paradox: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich". Perhaps the most beautiful paradox in the Bible is Isaiah's foretelling of the grace to be provided through Christ's suffering on the cross: "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed".
One of the hardest paradoxes for us as Christians is found in Matthew Chapter 5, where Jesus says: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons 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 brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Love your enemies? Now that's a real paradox. You mean we have to love everyone, even those who hate us? Not just those who hate us, but also those who would steal from us or do us harm. Again, in Matthew Chapter 5, Jesus tells us: "If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
These are hard teachings, are they not? If someone hits me or steals from me, not only can I not retaliate, but I am supposed to offer them help, as well? This is contrary to our basic human nature. When we're attacked, either verbally or physically, our natural instinct is to fight back. But, as we just read, God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. He does not show favoritism, and the challenge for us is to do the same. Can we love those who hate us? If our enemy is injured, do we bandage his wounds and care for him? In a nutshell, can we do what is right even when we are surrounded by evil? If the Lord loved us enough to die for us while we were still sinners, shouldn't we show the same love for other sinners?
Consider the situation between the Arabs & Israelis. One side attacks the other. The other side retaliates with greater force, killing even more people. The first side then responds with still greater force, and the violence continues to escalate. When will this cycle of violence end? Either when both sides are completely destroyed, or when one side responds not with force but with love. Humanity has a choice - either we can love each other or we can destroy each other. It's that simple. Things will change only when someone has the courage to say, "I don't care what my enemy does, I refuse to hate him any longer". If every person on earth would do this, then Isaiah's prophecy would finally come true: "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore."
Loving someone does not always mean you will be able to make them happy all the time. Giving a homeless person money that you know he will spend on liquor or drugs is not acting in love, no matter how mad he gets when you don't give him any money. We don't give our children everything they want whenever they want it, because we know it will make them spoiled and impatient adults. Loving someone means acting in their best interest, regardless of how they may react. Jesus loved the Pharisees enough to bring his message of truth to them, even though he knew they would hate him for it. The apostles were given the responsibility for spreading the gospel throughout the world, even though they were persecuted and sometimes killed because of it. Sometimes I think that nothing makes people angrier than the truth. Yet our actions must be based on love, regardless of how others react. Is it easy to love everyone, even those who hate us? No. But then who said life was supposed to be easy? God designed life to challenge us and teach us, not pamper us.
