The Way of Love

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on the cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you...then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:27-31;35-36

As a writer, I usually think of myself as someone who can bring truth, direction, encouragement, and hope. Whether I'm writing a novel, a short article such as this, or a letter to a friend, that's always my goal. It's interesting to watch how people respond to the words I write, and I often wonder how many are listening. How many really get what I'm trying to say? How many don't get it, how many do but don't want to hear it, and how many listen, believe, and put the truth into practice? As I always say to my kids when they ask me a question I don't know the answer to: 'It's a mystery, Charlie Brown.'

I like how Jesus starts out this particular string of suggestions: "I tell you who hear Me."  Jesus knew that many who were in the crowd would hear Him, but not really listen. And He would give them that choice—the freedom to listen to what He had to say and then walk away saying to themselves, That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. I don't know who this rabbi thinks he is, but he's not facing reality.

The problem we often have with the words of Jesus is they're not natural. The way we normally think and function is put on the chopping block, and most of it gets axed! Our natural reaction to unfairness, mistreatment, robbery and being taken advantage of is to fight back: "No! You can't do that to me, and I'm not going to let you!" We see this every day in others and far too often in ourselves as well. On Sundays we put on our Sunday Best and go to church and sing nice songs and listen to the preacher, calling ourselves good Christians and good citizens and decent, civil people, and a lot of the time we are. But then someone crosses our path who does something we don't like, and suddenly we are their worst nightmare. And what's worse, we often judge them in the Name of God.

Jesus had a name for that: hypocrisy. And He hated it. If someone wanted to get Jesus riled-up about something, that was the way to do it. And they often did, and when He crossed them and called them out on their evil ways, then He was their enemy and someone they wanted to get rid of, and eventually they succeeded—until the Third Day.

I hear a lot of people say they pray for those they feel oppressed by. Whether it's a particular person in their life, a group of people they oppose for whatever reason, the government, or fellow Christians. And if they really do that, I commend them. But I think what a lot of us are really saying is, 'Those are evil people who need prayer,' but we seldom actually get on our knees for them. And, even if we do, this was not Jesus' only directive to those who would hear Him.

He didn't just say to pray. He also said to act. To love. To do good. To bless, not curse. To give. To show kindness and mercy. It's not complicated. It's not like Jesus wasn't being clear. It's just not natural for us, and I think that's the whole point.

What's the point of being natural? Nothing. There's no point when we act apart from God's divine nature. We live as mere mortals, and it's exhausting! We weren't meant to live that way. It's pointless. We strive for what we think we need only to discover in the end that we need something else. Not revenge. Not to be right. Not to get what we think we deserve. Not even to hold on to what is rightly ours. Those pursuits seem so urgent, but there's no satisfaction in them. Even if we rise and conquer, victory eludes us. We end up feeling emptier than when we started. And Jesus knew that. He still knows it. And He provides a new way. A new solution that actually works. A supernatural way of living that can truly make us feel alive and rise above whatever and whomever is making us feel oppressed or angry or fearful. It's the way of love.

Negative actions of others cannot be dealt with through negativity. As Paul said in Romans 12:22, Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.  He writes these words after other radical statements like, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  And, Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement...Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

This way of life is not easy. It is not for the faint of heart. But it is good. It is worthwhile. It is rewarding. And perhaps best of all, it is not impossible. If you choose to live this way, you won't get it right every time, and often you will totally blow it. But it's worth the effort, and what I have found is that while it may not be easy, it's much easier than the alternative. Peace and joy will come when you least expect it. The delight of your God will be abundant and satisfying. And the more you live this way, the more you'll want to, and the more you'll love it. In other words, it's addicting.

I'll finish with the words Jesus goes on to say. Take Him at His word, dear one. Believe it or not, He has your best interests in mind. So you may as well believe it, and you will see.

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:37-38