Post by Mark on Dec 19, 2008 4:58:25 GMT -8
It’s easy for us, in suburban America, to read some MessiahYeshua’s teachings with contempt for those who might ignore it. We read the phrase that Hetaught from the mountainside, "love those who hate you…" and decide to make it into a bumper-sticker for our cars. It’s easy for us because our neighbors aren’t trying to kill us. Our neigbors don’t rejoice and celebrate when our children are dying. Our neighbors don’t steal from us and challenge us to gain restoration. This is an environment that makes love a little bit challenging.
Israel is a very small country that can be traversed across on foot in only a few days by any direction. It is also the central junction in commerce for the four major empires of the European/Asian world. It is said that "good fences make good neighbors;" but it is hard to build good fences when you live in ther middle of intersection for all international commerce.
The Jewish people have always been resilliant to assimilation, though they have been invaded, conquered, and seemingly annihilated time and time again. The surrounding tribal nations easily adapted themselves to whatever new regime dictated and moved their alleigance to the reigning power of the time. The Israelites stuck out like a sore thumb, and were thus a consternation and embarrassment to the "community".
It’s easy to love those who love you. Messiah said that even the publicans, those whoes self-interests out-weighed any other considerations, did that. It’s even easy, almost as easy, to express affection to those who have been indifferent towards us: those passing by in our lives whom we would otherwise never meet unless we reach out to them with kindness.
It’s a little harder for us to find a kind spot in our hearts for those who are bent on our destruction. In Greek the word is "ek-thros", referring to those who are openly hostile toward us. Specifically it is used in reference to Satan. In Hebrew the word is "oy-yeb". The image is of one stamping a clump of charcoal to powder: to utterly dissentigrate and ruin something out of contempt. These are not happy thoughts, nor is the idea of offering affection from underneath the heel of one’s adversary seemingly reasonable nor rational.
gives specific commands and examples as how we are to deal with our enemies.
If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
(Exodus 23:4-5 KJV)
The Wise One states,
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
(Proverbs 25:21-22 KJV)
This is quoted by Paul in Roman 12:20-21 who then adds the phrase,
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:21 KJV)
This is all well and good in the academic. In the world of Messianic believers, though, we find ourselves in a practical state of being between two worlds that are against us: the Christians who see as a restraint and and bondage, and the Jew who identifies us with the Christian oppression. Few welcome us as friends, most ignore us completely, and an element is pressed and motivated for our theological destruction. And we are to love them? Practically, this is a difficult thing for us to maneuver; yet, in our hearts, it is no less a battle for us to undertake. It’s easy for me to hold those whom I once called close friends in resentment because they ave utterly rejected my love for the Messiah and His . It’s difficult for me to not enjoy the notion of intellectually grinding them (in their theological position) to powder.
Paul continues with this advice:
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
(Colossians 4:5-6 KJV)
The necessary element is to take captive our tendency toward bitterness against those who hate us and make opportunities to show love. Recognize who and what we are and seek reconcilliation in our hearts.
Israel is a very small country that can be traversed across on foot in only a few days by any direction. It is also the central junction in commerce for the four major empires of the European/Asian world. It is said that "good fences make good neighbors;" but it is hard to build good fences when you live in ther middle of intersection for all international commerce.
The Jewish people have always been resilliant to assimilation, though they have been invaded, conquered, and seemingly annihilated time and time again. The surrounding tribal nations easily adapted themselves to whatever new regime dictated and moved their alleigance to the reigning power of the time. The Israelites stuck out like a sore thumb, and were thus a consternation and embarrassment to the "community".
It’s easy to love those who love you. Messiah said that even the publicans, those whoes self-interests out-weighed any other considerations, did that. It’s even easy, almost as easy, to express affection to those who have been indifferent towards us: those passing by in our lives whom we would otherwise never meet unless we reach out to them with kindness.
It’s a little harder for us to find a kind spot in our hearts for those who are bent on our destruction. In Greek the word is "ek-thros", referring to those who are openly hostile toward us. Specifically it is used in reference to Satan. In Hebrew the word is "oy-yeb". The image is of one stamping a clump of charcoal to powder: to utterly dissentigrate and ruin something out of contempt. These are not happy thoughts, nor is the idea of offering affection from underneath the heel of one’s adversary seemingly reasonable nor rational.
gives specific commands and examples as how we are to deal with our enemies. If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
(Exodus 23:4-5 KJV)
The Wise One states,
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
(Proverbs 25:21-22 KJV)
This is quoted by Paul in Roman 12:20-21 who then adds the phrase,
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
(Romans 12:21 KJV)
This is all well and good in the academic. In the world of Messianic believers, though, we find ourselves in a practical state of being between two worlds that are against us: the Christians who see
as a restraint and and bondage, and the Jew who identifies us with the Christian oppression. Few welcome us as friends, most ignore us completely, and an element is pressed and motivated for our theological destruction. And we are to love them? Practically, this is a difficult thing for us to maneuver; yet, in our hearts, it is no less a battle for us to undertake. It’s easy for me to hold those whom I once called close friends in resentment because they ave utterly rejected my love for the Messiah and His . It’s difficult for me to not enjoy the notion of intellectually grinding them (in their theological position) to powder. Paul continues with this advice:
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
(Colossians 4:5-6 KJV)
The necessary element is to take captive our tendency toward bitterness against those who hate us and make opportunities to show love. Recognize who and what we are and seek reconcilliation in our hearts.
