In Matthew 5, in what we have come to call the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus illustrates his statement that his followers must exceed the “righteousness of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law”. One of the statements he makes is that we must love (“agape”—doing the best for the other) our enemies. A few paragraphs later he tells us that we aren’t to focus on the things of the earth (treasures) but instead “lay up treasures in heaven”.
I’ve made no secret to my congregation that I find the “love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek” to be the hardest of all my King’s commands to live out. But he is still King.
So, I am making a commitment to pray. Absolutely for the Christian, Muslim (ISIS is only friendly to militant Sunnis) and Yazidi people being persecuted—but also for the persecutors. For the members of ISIS who are committing these atrocities, and for their supporters who make it possible. I’m praying for conviction that what they are doing is sin. For them to hear the gospel even in the midst of their evil. And for them to be forgiven for what they are doing.
I don’t expect anyone who belongs to the world, no matter how much I like them, to join me in this. But I invite all Christians who struggle with this command as I do to obey our King and join me in prayer.
