Jesus calls for us to love our enemies. I don't know about you, but that is not easy for me. It takes work, patience, an open mind, and an open heart. Love Your Enemies: How Decent People Can Save America From A Culture of Contempt is a book by Arthur C. Brooks that challenges us to rise above the toxic partisanship of our current culture and to find common ground with one another in a peaceful, loving way.
Just how toxic is our culture today? The January 2019 paper "Lethal Mass Partisanship"PDF says that just over 42 percent of the people in each party view the opposition as “downright evil" with many who think that the country would be better off if large numbers of the opposition died!
The Love Your Enemies book was published this week and it starts out with the story of the NY Black Lives Matter leader Hawk Newsome who was invited to speak to a Trump group at the "Mother of All Rallies." Boos turned to cheers as Hawk connected with this group by talking about justice, making America great for all, and his Christian faith. Potential violence avoided and love and understanding flourished. Thanks be to God.
Pastor Curtis.