I feel like the phrase “Love your enemies” has become white noise in the Christian community. We hear it, we nod, and we go about our lives. God calls us to love our enemies we say, a serene expression on our face, before we turn around and do things that could never be called loving.
If, like me, you like lists, I have good news for you: we have a list that tells us exactly what love looks like! 1 Corinthians 13.
I actually have a lot of thoughts about this, but for today, I’m going to be hanging out on verse 5 (specifically one section of it): “[Love] does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [a]thinks no evil; “.
The NIV version of the bold/italicized section says “does not dishonor others,” and I think between the two of them, it paints a pretty clear picture.
As election season is in full swing, I cannot stop thinking of those verses. Obviously, we are free to oppose one candidate or another, or to offer our support. But the question is, how do we do it?
This isn’t aimed at any particular party. Both sides do it.
The political memes? Are they actually about politics, or are they mocking someone’s appearances, speech patterns, or fashion sense? Are they questioning someone’s position, or someone’s humanity? (In the literal sense: referring to someone as a dog, a horse, etc.)
Regardless on who wins the election, God is on the throne, and His commands remain unchanged.
And for the people who cite “freedom of speech,” that is an American rule. Christians have willingly submitted ourselves to a kingship.
