Irtfy wrote a great post all in good humor, called praying for enemies. It is a humorous look at an issue that is near and dear to my heart.
Bit of a chuckle here, but I did that once, I prayed that God would smote one of my enemies. Strike him with lightning, whither his crops, annihilate the fool. It was long ago in the heat of the moment, in the midst of teenage rage at a football game. The target of my offense was a bully, an arrogant and prideful little jerk who really deserved to be taken down a peg or two.
I kid you not, the guy collapsed right before my very eyes. Undiagnosed heart defect of some sort. He survived, in fact if he hadn’t collapsed right at that moment, in the presence of football paramedics, so near a hospital, it may have caught him aware at some other time and taken his life. I have no idea if he’s still alive today, I never saw him again, but I know he survived the encounter with my self-righteous rage and vicious little prayers.
I however, did not fare so well. Just the idea that I might hold the power of life and death over my enemies left me wracked with guilt. What if God really had handed me that power? What if I had made a mistake? What if this guy served some purpose in the world I was not aware of? What if I were perceiving the situation wrong? What if I were the jerk? What if I were acting just like him? Oh dear Lord, I am so not worthy, I hope you have not handed me this superpower! Why, I could completely decimate a small country without a second thought, without even understanding the moral implications involved! God, you do realize I am just 16 right? No one in their right mind would give me this power!
I have since matured in faith. I have never since prayed for evil to befall anyone. Sometimes I pray for eyes to be opened or for justice to prevail, but always with complete love. Sometimes I have to pray to have my anger relieved so I can do that, but I take “love your enemies” very seriously. I know if there is the slightest bit of sin in my heart it is not a holy prayer on behalf of another, it is all me in that equation. There’s nothing particularly wrong with that, I’d just best not pretend I am praying on behalf of anyone but myself in that situation and I better be clear about that. God is not impressed with deception.
I don’t know if everyone else is called to do that, I only know I clearly am. Everyone has a slightly different ministry, different things they are called to do. I don’t dare pray for evil to befall anyone, but that is me.
Sometimes within Christianity however, I think we put a huge emphasis on forgiveness, 70 times 70 even, on turning the other cheek, on being at peace with all people. Those are valid points, those are scripturally sound principles, but I think sometimes we forget that not even Christ Himself always turned the other cheek. There was a time when He went into the temple, threw over tables, and chased the money lenders around with a whip.
Sometimes to remain silent in the face of injustice is immoral. Sometimes refusing to stand up when you are called to do so is wrong. Each situation is different, each person must figure out that walk between the Lion and Lamb for themselves. It is not an easy walk to undertake.
There have been many great philosophers and writers over the years who have wrestled with that issue, who have spoken about making sure you do not become the monster you oppose. It’s not a simple moral conundrum, it’s a complex issue with a lot of variables.
I think many people’s hearts cry out for justice these days. I know there is One who’s justice is perfect, who can bring peace to your heart in a way nothing this world offers ever can.
Human Interest said:
Reblogged this on Human Interest.
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insanitybytes22 said:
thank you for the reblog.
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Human Interest said:
You’re welcome.
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garym6059 said:
It take much more energy to hold hate in than it does to just turn the other cheek.
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insanitybytes22 said:
True that 😉
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RejZoR said:
Favoriting this because of the image 😀
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irtfyblog said:
Thank you for the pingback. Great post, IB.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Thanks for writing about something so important and with such great humor. It was a nice way to start the day.
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irtfyblog said:
you’re welcome. glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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silenceofmind said:
Being my own worst enemy I pray for myself a lot.
Nevertheless, I do manage a few prayers for the beautiful people.
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Wally Fry said:
Thanks SoM I appreciate your concern.☺
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insanitybytes22 said:
LOL! 😉
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Paul said:
The Arabs have some dandy curses. Things like “May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your privates.” Bwahahaha! Whew, David really cussed them evil-doers down in that psalm. do ya think maybe he didn’t like them? When God’s right hand man lays you low like that, it is time to find another gig – course, I’m not sure where you would go to avoid God.
You are right, in my estimation IB, that it is a fine, fine balance between the lamb and the lion. I don’t know about you, but I struggle to turn the other cheek sometimes – but struggle i do. Now, you would think that I would just struggle along and every case would be like that but it is not. For some reason there are rare but very distinct times when there is no thought of struggle and i just explode. They are very rare (perhaps a handful of times in my life) and I only get violent with inanimate objects, but the scathing words that come out of my mouth amaze me in retrospect. Afterwards i feel kind of like a dog that has attacked and then stands there with an odd expression on its face as if to say: What the heck was that? It literally feels as if the words come from outside myself – and there is no cursing involved. Much like David’s rant in the psalm. And to date I have never regretted such an outburst. What comes to mind is God’s assurance that when we need the words He will supply them.
I guess my little soliloquy means to me that when the time is right to be the lion there is no doubt, no struggle, no question, no forethought – it will just happen. Boom. Meanwhile, if there is no boom, then struggle we must.
Great post IB. Thank you.
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insanitybytes22 said:
Great comment, Paul. It really is like that, isn’t it? When it’s time to stand up you just know it and do it and there are no regrets. At least that’s how it is if you walk closely with Christ. I imagine there are also probably hot heads who blow their top at every little thing, but that’s not what I was speaking of 😉
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newheavenonearth said:
Powerful! thank you!
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insanitybytes22 said:
Thank you 😉
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