Pastor Aaron Brown

Today is a day of big feelings for a lot of people. Yesterday, Charlie Kirk was assassinated, and today is the 24th remembrance of 9/11. I know I’m feeling some pain, some anger, and some fear… So, today is a good day to remember that we are one people. In times of crisis or pain, it’s easy to let fear divide us and dehumanize those that we feel are our opposition. Remember today that your neighbors are not the enemy. We honor those who came before us when we honor our neighbors and fellow citizens, no matter our disagreements. Care for one another, forgive one another, and let respect restore civility and unity in our society. United we can stand, but divided we will fall.

To my fellow Christians: Remember that we take it one step further… When Jesus says, “you have heard that it was said, ‘love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” he’s essentially saying that there is no human enemy.

These aren’t the benign ramblings of a fuzzy-headed hippie. These are the radical, counter-cultural, and life-altering ethics of the God who created the cosmos. In a climate where the Jewish people are being colonized by Rome, and followers of Jesus were soon to be fed to lions by the empire, these are hard teachings. When we claim them for today, we have to reconcile with the implication that even the terrorist and the assassin are not the enemy. Instead, they are estranged family members trapped in a system of pain and broken relationships. Every human who hurts others has been hurt and is reaching for power and purpose to correct their own broken experiences. We recognize that these people are captives of their own fear and living in a lie that promises resolution through violence, but never delivers. As my friend Toran recently said, “all violence is an assault on God because it is an assault on God’s image.” Every human is a masterpiece reflection of God, and language that dehumanizes others,or actions that harm them are poor substitutes for the ways of Jesus.

The way of Jesus is love, and when we settle for lesser truths and lesser powers, we sacrifice other humans on the altar of our own fear. Perfect love is the only thing that can heal, perfect love can drive out fear, and perfect love can only be found in a personal relationship with the living God of the universe. Consider the words of John the Apostle:

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins… This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world, we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” – John the Apostle, 1 John 4:7-10, 13-21

So, no matter what you’re grieving today, remember that love is greater than fear and forgiveness is greater than vengeance. Love and forgiveness can mend the deepest of wounds and reconcile all people with one another and to a right relationship with God. The Lord will see to justice; it’s our job to walk in love. Here’s the fuller quote from this teaching of Jesus…

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Aren’t even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – Jesus, Matthew 5:43-48

Love all. Harm none. Forgive often.

There is no human enemy.