📌 After losing my husband, I’ve come to understand the meaning of “grief” through my own experience. Death is no longer just an abstract tragedy to me — it’s personal.
📌 Now, every child, spouse, or parent killed in conflict, regardless of their religious background or spirituality, is not just a number… they are someone’s entire world, just like my husband was mine.
👉 This led me to wonder: what does the heart of Jesus look like in a world torn by fear and conflict?
💬 What Does “Enemy” Really Mean?
In Scripture, “enemy” can refer to:
- Personal enemies — those who hurt, betray, or oppose us (Luke 6:27)
- Political enemies — hostile nations or groups (like the Romans in Jesus’ time)
- Spiritual enemies — sin, darkness, and death (Ephesians 6:12)
So when Jesus says, “Love your enemies, andpray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44), He’s not just talking about mild disagreements or personal slights. He’s referring to anyone we’re tempted to hate, fear, or wish harm upon — even those who actively work against us.
That includes:
- Those who try to destroy us
- Those we see as threats
- Those who oppose our beliefs
- Even those we’re at war with
And that’s what makes it one of the most radical, burdensome commands in all of Scripture.
💬 The Hard Question
Now comes the tough question: Are we truly listening to what Jesus taught… given the wars and suffering happening around us?
So I ask, with humility:
If Christ calls us to love even those who hate us — how can we, as His followers, celebrate or justify violence, even in the name of justice or defense?
When many Christians support killing “enemies” in wars, does that conflict with the very words of Jesus?
This isn’t a political debate. It’s not about choosing sides.
It’s about the gospel.
👉 The Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) reflect different but complementary aspects of God’s nature and His relationship with humanity. They both speak to justice, peace, and conflict, but in different ways that reflect the unfolding of God’s plan over time.
Here’s how it typically breaks down:
✅ Old Testament (Justice, Judgment, and God’s Righteousness)
- God’s justice is central: The OT emphasizes justice as necessary for holiness and communal survival.
- War and protection: God sometimes commanded war to protect or purify Israel (e.g., in Judges or 1 Samuel).
- Justice as obedience to God:
“Seek justice, correct oppression…” — Isaiah 1:17
“Let justice roll down like waters…” — Amos 5:24
- Imperfect systems: Much of the OT law was meant to set Israel apart from surrounding nations—but it was also limited by human hardness of heart (Jesus alludes to this in Matthew 19:8).
✅ New Testament (Peace, Mercy, and the Way of Christ)
- Jesus redefines justice through love, humility, and non-retaliation.
- Peace is personal and spiritual:
“Blessed are the peacemakers…” — Matthew 5:9
“Love your enemies…” — Luke 6:27
- Kingdom justice looks different: It’s less about punishing evil and more about redeeming it.
- Paul’s teaching:“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21
- Spiritual enemies prioritized:“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…” — Ephesians 6:12
👉 So what does it mean to be a Christian in a world filled with conflict?
✳️ The Call for Peace — and the Reality of Pain
Jesus’ teachings were radical back then, and they still are today. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27–28). These are not easy words. In fact, they might be the hardest for us to live out—especially when those we love have been hurt, or when we see innocent people suffering.
And yet, this is the heart of the gospel: that love overcomes hate, that mercy wins over judgment, and that God’s power is perfected not through force, but through sacrifice.
✳️ Justice and Forgiveness: Not Either/Or
The Bible acknowledges the reality of evil. The Psalms cry out for justice. The prophets demand it: “Seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17). There is a holy anger that wells up when we see injustice, and God does not ask us to turn a blind eye.
But He also urges us not to let that anger turn into hatred.
Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting or pretending that injustice doesn’t matter. It’s a choice to leave vengeance to God. “Do not repay anyone evil for evil… Do not take revenge… ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:17–19).
Christians are encouraged to embody both truth and grace, justice and mercy — not as opposites, but as a balance, just as Jesus demonstrated.
✳️ Faith in a Fractured World
During times of war and conflict—whether in the Middle East or within our own relationships—it’s easy to want to take sides quickly. To defend. To retaliate. To shut down empathy in the name of righteousness. But Jesus never asked us to choose between love and truth. He asked us to carry the cross.
And the cross doesn’t easily fit into political categories.
It seems like radical love—costly forgiveness, prayer for enemies, lament for the hurting—and the courage to ask: “What would Jesus do — not just in my heart, but in this moment, in this crisis, in this conflict?”
✴️ An Invitation
Maybe we can’t solve all the world’s violence. Maybe we can’t agree on every political detail. But we can ask ourselves:
- Am I becoming more like Christ in how I respond to pain and injustice?
- Am I praying for peace as much as I’m defending my point?
- Am I willing to let love lead, even when I’m afraid?
And sometimes, choosing peace — genuine, Christlike peace — is the strongest act of faith.