These words by Jesus are some of the hardest to live by. Love your enemies. Is such a thing possible? And isn’t it just plain stupid? After all everyone knows that might is right, that power always defeats the powerless. Why on earth would I love my enemies? Almost 50 years ago Martin Luther King Jnr the civil rights campaigner wrote this in a sermon called Loving your enemies.
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says, "love your enemies," he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies—or else? The chain reaction of evil—hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars—must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.
Jesus invites us to love our enemies, to turn away from hate and violence and instead to act like our Father in heaven who ‘makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong.’ (Matthew 5)
What might it mean for us to act with love towards others? To do away with hate? How might that change our household, our community, our world?
This Sunday We will be thinking about Giving up .. Enemies. What might it mean for us to be people who love our enemies instead of hating them? How could that change our relationships and our world?
Mainly Music- And we’re all go again this week as we move back to level 1. See you on Wednesday. This programme is a fun way for parents and their children to spend quality time together based around music and movement. It is a way for us as a church to connect with and offer something back to the community of which we are a part. It’s also a way for us to demonstrate care, concern and support for those with young children.
Small Groups are now up and running again. Contact the church office@pb.org.nz if you would like to join one
Oh and for those who are unable to join us we will still have an on-air service for you @10.30am and again @ 8pm on Thursday evening on Coast Access Radio 104.7FM or you can livestream at
http://coastaccessradio.org.nz/Listen/index.aspx The message and prayers will also be posted to the sermon page on this website.
If at this time you need someone to chat with then please call the church office 04 2987766 or email office@pb.org.nz and we’ll get back to you.
And we are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/paraparaumubaptist
Grace and peace