Listen to last week’s sermon : How Christians Should Treat Their Enemies – Romans 12:9-21

In today’s increasingly polarized world, the question of how Christians should treat their enemies has become more relevant than ever. A recent sermon by Pastor Eric delves deep into this challenging topic, offering timeless biblical wisdom that speaks directly to our current social climate. Drawing from Romans 12 and real-world examples, this sermon explores the Christian approach to dealing with adversaries while maintaining faith and integrity.

The Modern Christian’s Crossroads

We stand at a crucial moment in history where Christians face a defining choice in how they respond to opposition and conflict. Pastor Eric emphasizes that believers today generally fall into two distinct categories. The first group consists of those who choose to remain passive observers, content to criticize the world’s evil from the comfort of their metaphorical rocking chairs. The second group embraces the challenging path of active discipleship, willingly carrying their cross as Jesus commanded and living according to His teachings despite the difficulties this might entail.

The Revolutionary Teaching of Jesus

While the Old Testament operated under the principle of “an eye for an eye,” Jesus introduced a revolutionary approach to dealing with adversaries. This new paradigm challenged the fundamental human instinct for revenge and retaliation, replacing it with a radical call to love one’s enemies. This teaching wasn’t merely a suggestion but represented a complete transformation in how God’s people were to interact with those who opposed them.

The Marks of Authentic Christian Character

The apostle Paul, writing to the Romans, outlines several essential characteristics that should be evident in the life of every true believer. At the heart of these teachings lies the concept of sincere love – love without hypocrisy or hidden agendas. This authentic love forms the foundation for all Christian interactions, even with those who might be considered enemies. Paul emphasizes that true Christians must demonstrate a clear moral compass, hating what is evil while clinging tenaciously to what is good. This isn’t just about maintaining personal purity but about actively engaging with the world in a way that reflects Christ’s character. The instruction to honor others above oneself presents a particularly challenging aspect of Christian character, especially when dealing with those who oppose us.

Three Strategic Approaches to Enemy Engagement

Pastor Eric outlines three biblical strategies for dealing with enemies, each requiring supernatural grace to implement effectively:

Soaring Above Evil

The first strategy involves choosing the higher path when faced with opposition. Rather than descending to the level of those who wrong us, Christians are called to maintain their integrity and refuse to repay evil for evil. This approach requires careful attention to doing what is right in everyone’s eyes, even when facing provocation or injustice.

Killing with Kindness

Perhaps the most counter-intuitive of the three strategies, this approach involves actively showing kindness to our enemies. The biblical instruction is specific and practical: if your enemy is hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. This radical response to hostility often proves more effective than retaliation, potentially leading to transformation in the relationship.

Trusting in Higher Judgment

The third strategy requires believers to resist the natural urge for revenge, instead leaving room for God’s justice to prevail. This approach acknowledges God as the ultimate judge and trusts in His promise to make all things right in His perfect timing.

Understanding Enemy Formation

The sermon provides valuable insight into how enemies are created, noting that opposition can arise from various sources: Misunderstandings often serve as the foundation for enmity, leading to unnecessary conflicts and divisions. Historical examples show how wars have started and relationships have been destroyed due to simple misunderstandings that escalated into serious conflicts. Jealousy, as illustrated in the biblical account of Saul’s hatred toward David, can transform admiration into bitter enmity. The story of Saul and David demonstrates how success and public acclaim can inadvertently create enemies, even among those who should be allies. Personal mistakes and poor choices can also create enemies, as demonstrated in David’s life through his sins with Bathsheba and his handling of Absalom’s rebellion. These examples remind us that sometimes our own actions contribute to the creation of adversarial relationships.

The sermon concludes with a powerful modern example that brings these principles to life. The story of Chris Carrier, who was abducted and severely injured as a child in 1984, provides a compelling illustration of these biblical principles in action. Despite losing sight in one eye due to the attack, Carrier grew up to embrace his Christian faith fully. Years later, he sought out his attacker, David McAllister, who was elderly and blind in a nursing home. Instead of seeking revenge, Carrier offered forgiveness and spent time with the man who had tried to kill him, demonstrating the transformative power of biblical principles in action.

Watch sermon here :