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{"id":9102,"date":"2011-09-16T17:31:13","date_gmt":"2011-09-16T21:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nakedpastor.com\/?p=9102"},"modified":"2011-09-16T17:31:13","modified_gmt":"2011-09-16T21:31:13","slug":"we-need-our-enemies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/nakedpastor\/2011\/09\/we-need-our-enemies\/","title":{"rendered":"We Need Our Enemies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I have enemies. There are people who I don\u2019t like. Who have opposed me. Who I wish weren\u2019t in my life. Who have hurt me. Who have hurt people I love. Who repulse me. Who shock me. Who I want nothing to do with. Who I want to suffer for what they\u2019ve done.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t agree with the syrupy New Age idea that we are all one sweet happy family. I don\u2019t agree with the silly idea that if I just understood my enemy then I would see that he has the same feelings that I do and that I would therefore like him and love him.<\/p>\n

Frequently, when I talk about loving my enemies, someone will inevitably respond that they aren\u2019t really my enemy. I just need to understand them. That they really didn\u2019t mean to hurt me or my loved ones. That deep down they are sweet adorable lovable people, and that if I just saw this that there would be no problem.<\/p>\n

Often, they are very spiritual people who assert this. But I ask such people, \u201cWhat do you do with one of the most famous teachings of Jesus that we love our enemies and bless them?<\/em>\u201d Do we say to Jesus, \u201cIf you only really knew this person, he wouldn\u2019t be your enemy, but a friend<\/em>\u201c?<\/p>\n

I assert that we need our enemies in order to truly learn how to love. As Jesus also insisted, what\u2019s the big deal about loving your family and friends? Everybody does that. That\u2019s a natural love that many already possess. The challenge is to love the \u201cother\u201d, the different, the stranger, the alien, the disgusting, the revolting, the repulsive, the violent, the avenger, the oppressor, the aggressor.<\/p>\n

So for Jesus, what it came down to was not how we felt towards the \u201cother\u201d, but how we treated the \u201cother\u201d. It\u2019s not just about loving our enemy, but forgiving him. It\u2019s not just about positive thoughts about the enemy, but about not retaliating. It\u2019s not just feeling warm feelings for the enemy, but blessing him.<\/p>\n

What this means for individuals, institutions, nations and the world is significant because it must translate into policy<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

So I don\u2019t know about you, but I need my enemies to prove that I really do love.<\/p>\n

Visit my online gallery<\/a> where you can buy my most popular cartoons and art.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"