If any group has been constructed as our modern day enemy, it’s the besieged Muslims under fire by our war machine across the world, as well as their relatives living inconspicuously in the United States. Instead of allowing their different perspectives and too-similar religious foundation to worry us into avoidance, we need to apply Jesus’ exhortation to embrace our enemy with agape, Christian love. This means challenging the Christianity-lite that glosses this basic Christian obligation, or trivializes it to the point of “forgiving” somebody who steals the prime parking spot, for example.
No, Muslims have been Christians’ blood enemies since the reprehensible Crusades, which are essentially being repeated under the vague guise of “security,” (i.e. access to resources so we can continue polluting the earth? Or for the sake of American imperialism?). Americans are actively defining Muslims as enemy targets, as enemies-by-association with extremists, and as theological threats. Notice that I’m not denying that Muslims are enemies (to whatever extent) to American Christians; I’m saying that Jesus says to LOVE our enemies.
Loving one’s enemies means accepting them on their own terms.
Whoa!!! “On their own terms”?! Don’t we expect people to meet us halfway? Did Jesus go halfway to Jerusalem, carry half the cross halfway to Golgotha, and suffer half the pain of death? Islam denies the Passion on the principle that such a beloved prophet shouldn’t need to suffer. True, the crucifixion wasn’t necessary. In fact, it’s absurd that the Son of God would die in ignominy; it’s scandalous even. Because my theology has been shaped in relation to Muslim views of Christianity, my explanation is that the Passion and Resurrection are the Great Follow-Through, the undeserved gift of hope and unification with God. Our grateful response, as limited as it is, must be to attempt to love others unconditionally, especially our enemies.
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