How Can We Possibly Love Them?!?

Here is a strange reality of human existence. Each tribe has its own version of “them” to place in the question above.

How could we possibly love…them?

Many of my friends, family, and students in the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities fall into the “them” category that is the target of the recent onslaught of executive orders…and they are terrified.

They ask, “how could we possibly love those who hate us and seek our removal?”

That is a legitimate question.

The turn to tyranny reflected in the onslaught of executive orders is, in my opinion, driven by a profound fear of the other and natural tendency toward self-protection at the cost of other-annihilation. The truly-heartbreaking part of it, for me, is that this turn to hatred and violence is being done in the name of Jesus.

Those who support these actions look at the Queer community, the migrants, the “liberals” and see “sinner/enemy.” They see a threat to their own version of the Christian way of life. They ask, “How could we possibly love them?” (see my commentary on the different moralisms here and ponder the video below)

Then we come to our Gospel reading for this week…

This is the second week that the Revised Common Lectionary takes us to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 6. Last week he blessed the poor and warned the rich (6:17-26). This week he goes even more radical. It would be easy for the poor and oppressed that he blessed last week to rise up and say, “Yes! God loves us and curses be upon the rich oppressors!”

Notice that Jesus does not curse the rich. Instead he warns them. “Woe to you…” Jesus is pleading with those who are abusing their power and exalting themselves at the expense of others to stop before it is too late. Jesus knows that the tyranny of Empire always comes crashing down.

The reading this week reveals the deeper truth of the Gospel. Violence always leads to more violence. Cursing your enemy only reveals that you have the same evil in your heart that leads your enemy to curse you.

There is only one antidote to evil: LOVE. God’s love is not the sentimental, romanticized nostalgia that people celebrated on the commercialized Valentine’s Day last week. God’s love sees every human being–rich and poor, powerful and weak–as valuable and beloved and worth saving. The rest of the Gospel of Luke shows us what this kind of love looks like. Jesus follows this love all the way to the cross. Stay tuned as we follow that path during Lent.

The only way hatred and violence can prevail is when we dehumanize our enemy. Jesus reminds us to love our enemy, because we must always remember that they are also created in the image of God. Pray for their well-being, because it is hard to hate someone when you are praying for them.

This is difficult teaching, especially when there is so much hatred, violence, and fear flying around today. Oh God, give us the ability to show mercy as you have shown us mercy. Forgive us, heal us, level the ground and guide us into the mutual flourishing that is your dream for all of us.

I encourage you to spend time reading the texts for the Revised Common Lectionary this week. They have a lot to say for our current events.

Genesis 45:3-11, 15 – Joseph forgives his brothers for leaving him for dead

Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40 – Trust in God’s justice, not our own vengeance

1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 – Death is not the end, but the beginning of a new thing

Luke 6:27-38 – Love your Enemies