The Toughest Love

We hear adages like this all of the time: "Love those that love you. Hate those that hate you - after all, if they don't respect you, why should you respect them. Do you want them to walk all over you? You need to get out there and get yours." There is no question that we live in a me first society. True story: several years ago on I-270, the wrap-around route that surrounds Columbus, OH, I was cut off by a passing car, as one of only three cars in close proximity no less, that bore the license plate tag "ME FIRST". I guess they weren't kidding. Wow.
But when I look at myself for a moment, I have to wonder, am I any better? Let's see. As a driver, I notice that I have an interesting habit of creating names for every driver that either moves too slowly, cuts me off or fails to signal. Amos T. Chet. Claude. Jake. I could go on and on. It's easy to say that I grew up hearing that, but what is it that I am doing? I get mad when drivers treat me in a way that is against what I feel I deserve. Are these feelings the same as hate? Oh, pretty much.
Going one step further: when a country goes against our country, either through a military, "terrorist" or economic action, what is our first response? We, through our leadership, usually try to impose our will upon them - in the interest of "national security", of course. I heard one presidential candidate last night state that we are not tough enough on certain countries and that we need to move quickly and decisively against them in order to show our strength. This was actually the quote that got me to think about this post.
As a Christian nation and as a Christian myself, am I to exert my will on others? Am I to love my loved ones and to hate those who have hurt me or picked on me through the years and to carry grudges against them for hurts even decades old? Am I supposed to despise all other drivers on the road because they dare get in my way? Hmmm.
Luke 6:27-36 lays it all on the line. Read what Jesus has to say on this subject for a moment: "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you" (vv.27-28). Wait a minute - what did he say? Is that not the exact opposite of what we might hear from day to day? Love my enemies? Huh?
There's more. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those that love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?... But love your enemies, do good, and lend expecting nothing in return" (vv.32-33, 35).
That's radical stuff. Is it even possible in today's world? Can we truly love our enemies? Can we do good to all? Can we repay evil with good? I believe that we can. Think about it. What kind of world would we be living in then?
What if we started to treat others well and if we did things for others without feeling the need for reciprocation or even acknowledgment? What if we caught that door for another? What if we allowed that pedestrian to cross, that car to get out in traffic in front of us or better yet, even, what if we simply stopped carrying hurt and grudges to others and simply forgave that other person for hurts and began to treat them in a truly loving manner?
What if, as Christians, we actually prayed for the people and nations who despise us, who despise our country and all that America is supposed to stand for? What if, instead of cutting off aid to countries who disagreed with us, we continued to send humanitarian aid and food to the people who need it the most?
Would we be weak doormats? Passive, timid wimps? I don't think so. If we truly incorporated the teachings of Jesus in this arena, I believe we would actually be tough. In fact, think about this, we would demonstrating the toughest kind of love: potentially unreturned love. It's easy to love our friends, our family and those who treat us well. Almost everybody does that. It's not that tough. Try loving someone who is mean or difficult to your face. Try returning good for evil. Then see how tough love can be. "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful" (v.36).
Never forget those words. Never forget the true toughness that Jesus demonstrated on the cross. He forgave those who did that to him. He stands to forgive our sins and our evil. Now, is that weakness? We are called and capable of doing the same thing, even today. I know that I have some work to do, by the grace of God. It will be difficult, but why else do I think it is called "tough love"? Have a great and blessed one and thanks for reading.
Feel free to comment, to pass this on.