On Enemies and Elections

Here is a beautiful example of love.

(Spoiler alert for people like Meredith, who might be currently reading, "The Hiding Place.")

Corrie Ten Boom, and her entire family were arrested by Nazi police in Holland for the crime of housing and protecting Jews.  During the course of their trials and imprisonment, Corrie's father died in prison, her sister in a concentration camp.  Her nephew was killed by the Nazi's, and her brother survived prison, but died an early death because of diseases he was exposed to in the filthy prisons.

Corrie survived inhuman conditions for years and miraculously was released from prison shortly before she was to be executed.

What do you think Corrie did with her life after she was released and her country redeemed from the Nazi's?

I bet you can't guess.

She had dreams, while in prison, of being able to help the mentally ill.  And she did.

But her sister, while dying in prison, at the abuse of Nazi guards, told Corrie that when they were released, they must provide a home for the former Nazi guards.

While dying, she told Corrie that they must tell people that there is no pit that God is not deeper than.

Crazy.

This is called loving your enemy.  Which, makes your enemy not an enemy anymore.

Corrie did that.  Former Nazi police/soldiers couldn't find any friendly faces after the war (no surprise), and she housed them, ministered to them, and facilitated former prisoners of these former Nazi's to come to a place of forgiveness, so that they would not be forever trapped by the prison of hate and unforgiveness.

This is the kind of love that Jesus showed.

He asked God to forgive those who crucified them.

This recent election season has resulted in a lot of hateful words, thoughts, and feelings, between people who might otherwise be friends.

I just wanted to say that this isn't o.k.

Disagreement is not an excuse for hate, no matter how vehemently you believe the other person to be in the wrong.  No matter how bad you believe the other guy's candidate might be for the country.

Your hatred enslaves you.  Let it go.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
~~~Ephesians 6:12

Love never fails.~~~~1 Corinthians 13:8