Loving like Jesus, sometimes means washing Judas’ feet

Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)  ~ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit how many times the Holy Spirit has had to tell me, “NO!” over the past few weeks. Every time I wanted to make a comment or post about my opinion over this election.  I heard that all too familiar, “Don’t do that Christy.” In my internal monologue I would ask, “Well, why not?  Everyone else is sharing their opinion!”  And I just received my answer last night as I was doing my bible study. His answer was right there in black and white. “Love your enemy.”  Now calling someone that believes differently than I do an enemy is a bit dramatic, but sometimes we feel that way.  Especially if they are attacking our faith or misinterpreting the truth.  We should stand up for our faith, 100%.  But is that stance causing us to forget that Love is what we are called to do.  In our fervor to make sure people understand what we believe, are we forgetting the person on the other side of that argument?  Regardless of how loudly or often they boast their opinion, is it really up to us to change their mind?

Some of us are losing friendships and family members because of our tendency to vocalize our opinion as if defending the people we voted for and the reasons, we did it is going to magically make everyone around us believe the way we do.  Is voicing our opinions really worth losing people we care about?  Is demonizing someone who thinks differently than you do, going to heal the divide that is destroying this county?

As a child of God, we are called to share His light with the world and teach the truth of who Jesus Christ is. If we look at the life of Christ, we see this perfect example in his treatment of Judas.  Jesus knew what Judas would do, but he never treated him differently.  His lack of faith was never pointed out or ridiculed.  He loved Judas the same as the other 11 disciples.  He included him in the ministry as His brother and friend. We can, as believers, extend the olive branch.  One by not discussing politics with the ones we know think differently than we do.  Two by doing something nice for them.  Numerous times in my walk with God, I’ve been angry at someone and out of the blue God will tell me to go do something kind for them.  My first thought is usually, “What?!?!  Ummmm I don’t even want to talk to them right now.”  But inevitably, the Holy Spirit wins the argument and after I’ve done that kind thing, the anger I feel is released.

I need to remind myself on a regular basis what I am called to do as a follower of Jesus Christ and stop thinking of people that are on the opposite side of an imaginary aisle as my enemy and start viewing them as a person that needs my kindness and love.  The people I vote for DO NOT need me to defend them.  They don’t even know who I am.  My reasons for why I vote the way I vote do not need to be defended.  I’m not going to change anyone’s mind by voicing those opinions. What may change a heart and a mind towards Christ?  Sharing the love and mercy that He shares with me on the daily.