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'Love Your Enemies' -- Even in the Age of Terrorism?
Abstract
The contemporary situation of the “war on terrorism” provides a particularly
challenging environment in which to seek to interpret and apply Jesus’ commandment
to love our enemies. This commandment received major emphasis
during the first few centuries of the church, but subsequent interpretation of it
has become increasingly complex. Nevertheless, I argue for the broad applicability
of the commandment and show that it provides a check against the polarizing
and dehumanizing tendencies which accompany modern warfare, because an
understanding of the love of enemies reveals that the real enemy is enmity itself.
Finally, the article examines a group of sermons preached in the immediate aftermath
of September 11 and concludes that while the majority neglect to speak of
love for enemies, those preachers that do are able to bring it to bear in relevant
and powerful ways.
challenging environment in which to seek to interpret and apply Jesus’ commandment
to love our enemies. This commandment received major emphasis
during the first few centuries of the church, but subsequent interpretation of it
has become increasingly complex. Nevertheless, I argue for the broad applicability
of the commandment and show that it provides a check against the polarizing
and dehumanizing tendencies which accompany modern warfare, because an
understanding of the love of enemies reveals that the real enemy is enmity itself.
Finally, the article examines a group of sermons preached in the immediate aftermath
of September 11 and concludes that while the majority neglect to speak of
love for enemies, those preachers that do are able to bring it to bear in relevant
and powerful ways.