Sunday, January 30, 2011

Would I Be Willing to Kiss Someone I'd Rather Kill?



 (Here's a brief but poignant post from Greg Boyd.  His words and the following photo capture my heart.)






A Revolutionary Kiss
Posted: 29 Jan 2011 10:40 AM PST
Amidst the violent protests calling for a revolution in Egypt we find a reminder of the utterly unique kind of revolution Jesus calls us to. Love, bless, pray for, do good to — and yes, even KISS — our enemies (Lk 6:27-38).
pb-110128-egypt-unrest-kiss-psphotoblog900.jpg
(An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot police officer following clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Jan. 28, 2011.MSNBC.COM)
 
Peace
Greg

6 comments:

Mary Hudak-Collins livingthescripture.com said...

I would really have to think about this question long and hard. I am a strong believer in the 'Word', but I'm not sure I could do this.

Steve said...

Mary, it is certainly not my natural inclination to do so. In recent years I have been coming to the conclusion that it was both the inclination and the practice of Jesus to do so. I've still got a long way to go before my impulse is to love my enemy rather than level him.

Bongo said...

I have been pondering this post...I was trying to separate the enemies....you can't do that...enemies are enemies..and we are supposed to love all no matter what.. forgiveness..sealed with a kiss... what a hard concept... I would like to think I could do that....but actually doing that...wow...tough stuff...I don't want to "level him" as you said... but I don't want to embrace him either....thought provoking stuff...nice post .....

Steve said...

Bongo, I know what you mean. I try to separate my enemies, too. So I can level them individually, one by one. :>)
I agree--loving one's enemy is hard stuff. Even the intent is difficult, let alone carrying it out.

Widow_Lady302 said...

At first I said no to this post...I've tried to comment on it several times, each time I stopped thinking I needed to consider it more before I did.

I'll say no I probably couldn't, but at the same time I have to acknowledge that my husband was a long time agnostic boardering athiest. Being a Christ follower myself wouldn't that mean that if he was not for God, he was against God, and therefore my enemy? If that is valid then I did more than kiss him, I served him faithfully.

I have no answer, just thoughts!

Steve said...

Widow_Lady, I would differ with your conclusion that since he was 'against God" therefore he was your enemy. I'm assuming your husband loved you and, if so, he was FOR you, not against you.An enemy is against you. Have you not had people in your life who supposedly were "for" God, but against you and acted as enemies? If my previous assumption is correct, he wasn't your enemy; he was your friend and lover. Peace