Contemplating the Enemy

If there is one constant theme in the history of humanity, it is the unending cycle of violence and war. Tribe against tribe, nation against nation, and us verses them. In our gluttonous pursuit of power and resources, which never seems to be satisfied, we turn our neighbors into enemies.

Many people look to established borders to give us some sense of security within this violent world. While history if full of nations seeking to expand the borders of their empire, we still tend to believe that if we could all just agree on our current international borders then perhaps we would have peace. We may think if we could just segregate the world, then we wouldn't have to deal with people unlike ourselves. The reality, however, is that we are far too good at creating enemies, even within our own walls.

One of the most frustrating aspects of our history is the influence of religion on our wars. Far too often religion has been used to rally support against other people and justify violence. While most religions, at their heart, promote peace and love, the desire for dominance and uniformity can quickly turn the faithful into violent zealots. Even as they claim to love everyone, they knowingly oppress the marginalized and will eagerly take up arms to impose their values on others. Even those with the best intentions still seem to desire that everyone convert and conform. But to only love people like yourself isn't love at all, it is narcissism.

These realities often cause me to reflect on Jesus' instruction to "love your enemy". This paradoxical statement, if taken seriously, completely undermines any attempt at religious violence and oppression. If taken to heart, this concept erases the category of enemy altogether, both for the enemies we create and for those who view us as their enemy.

First, loving our enemy diffuses our tendency to create enemies out of those who are different from us, even though they have caused no real harm to us. As we meet new people, we quickly begin to assess their values - their political affiliation, their religious views, and a host of other identity markers. Are they with me or against me? When we discover that someone doesn't align with our values, it's very easy to write them off as belonging to the opposing side. This happens without any actual hostility from them - they just don't hold the same beliefs or opinions. If we are honest, we hate them simply because they are different. What would it mean to "love your enemy" in this way? To love, with more than mere words, involves affirming the dignity of lifestyles and beliefs that we may not fully understand. Our inability to relate to or understand someone else's choices does not make our way superior. In truth, stepping outside of our own worldview with love and a non-defensive curiosity is the only way we ever grow.

Second, loving our enemy diffuses endless cycles of violence against those who view us as their enemy. For those who have decided that you are their enemy, we often default to the myth of redemptive violence. We are too quick to accept that we can overcome violence with even greater violence, but evil is not defeated through more evil. To love our enemy when we are the target of aggression involves being "wise as serpents and harmless as doves". This requires finding a third way besides simply doing nothing or violent retaliation. Jesus' examples of turning the other cheek and going the extra mile were non-violent acts of protest. Just like the childhood bully who is looking for a particular reaction from their victim, we can sometimes diffuse a situation with the unexpected. Again, this doesn't mean we do nothing. Rather, it means we search for a way out that doesn't sink to the level of the aggressor.

Ultimately, loving our enemy means working towards a world in which our walls can come down. It means we build a world in which our borders expand not through violent assimilation, but instead through an inclusive embrace of diverse expressions of humanity. We don't have to tolerate oppression and violence, but first we must make sure we are not the source of oppression and violence. If we truly dare to love our enemies, we may one day realize that we have no enemies. Our desire for justice and peace will not come through escalating hostility, but instead through healing and reconciling that which is divided.

Cartoon by artist David Hayward