Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Be Different
We fear losing. Any battle, really.
And our culture and civilization tell us to fight fire with fire. To match force with force. To respond to hatred with hate. To never back down, or appear to back down.
But Christ’s followers have a different battle plan, proposed here by Paul. He says let the victory (or loss) be in God’s hands. Instead, fight fire with air conditioning. Match force with conversation. Respond to hatred with love. Overcome evil, not using evil’s tools… but using the same weapon that Jesus used to conquer sin. Overcome evil with good.
We live in an age of escalation. But it is past time to de-escalate. We live in an age of revenge. But it is past time for peace. We live in an age of separation and division. But it is past time for gathering around the Christ-center.
We do not have to imagine what a world of escalation, revenge, separation, and division looks like. We live in that world. But imagine a world where we desire to love instead of to win. Imagine a world where we fight for each other, instead of fight each other. Imagine a world where we yearn to help instead of yearn to win. Imagine a world where we enjoy giving instead of focus merely on profit.
Sounds like heaven.
But we can have it here. And while you might expect me to write, “It starts here with YOU,” it really does not. It starts with Jesus. Then we follow, copy, emulate, imitate, and be like Him. He chose mercy instead of getting even with us. He chose grace instead of wining. He chose the big de-escalation that fixes everything.
Fear not, then be different.