Sometimes we followers of Jesus forget his actual teachings, some of which can be difficult, if not impossible, to follow. In particular I am thinking about these verses from the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? (Mat 5:43-46, ESV)
These verses remind me of two songs. One is a recent release by the group Gungor and the video is below. The other is an older song by Derek Webb, the lyrics of which follow the video.
My Enemies Are Men Like Me
Derek Webb
i have come to give you life
and to show you how to live it
i have come to make things right
to heal their ears and show you how to forgive them
’cause i would rather die
i would rather die
i would rather die
than to take your life
’cause how can i kill the ones i’m supposed to love
my enemies are men like me
so i will protest the sword if it’s not wielded well
’cause my enemies are men like me
peace by way of war
is like purity by way of fornication
it’s like telling someone murder is wrong
and then showing them by way of execution
and i would rather die
i would rather die
i would rather die
than to take your life
’cause how can i kill the ones i’m supposed to love
my enemies are men like me
so i will protest the sword if it’s not wielded well
’cause my enemies are men like me
when justice is bought and sold just like weapons of war
the ones who always pay are the poorest of the poor
so how can i kill the ones i’m supposed to love
my enemies are men like me
so i will protest the sword if it’s not wielded well
’cause my enemies are men like me
Just something to think about, my friends.
A Far Country 