[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 28/Sep/2025]
When studying the Sermon on the Mount, as we have been doing on ‘Connect in Faith’, it is all too easy to think: “These are lovely ideas but just won’t work in the real world”. Yet Jesus lived in a time much grimmer than our own but managed to put them into practice.
The command that challenges me most is: “Love your enemies”. I am fortunate that currently I have no personal enemies, like bullies at home or at work or nightmare neighbours, but there are those who are enemies of the things I hold dear, such as truth, justice, care for the poor and respect for all people regardless of age, gender, nationality or disability. It is so easy to hate leaders who misuse their power to start wars, take money from the poor or oppress minority groups.
Psalm 139 v19, 22 says:
“If only you would slay the wicked, O God. I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies”.
Like the Psalmist, I am tempted to long for the death of certain dictators who are causing misery to millions. Yet when one evil leader dies, often another equally bad takes his place, or the country falls into lawlessness. As we are reminded in Ephesians 6 v12, the real enemies aren’t people but the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Satan uses broken, hurting and angry people to do his work and the only way to overcome the evil is through love, but it is so hard to do.
I have tried to start by praying for one of these leaders that he will repent and know God’s love, but then I was struck by the thought: “If my prayer is answered, I will have to put up with this person in heaven for all eternity!” I then realised that if that was my attitude, I wasn’t fit for heaven either. The dying criminal who repented on the cross next to Jesus doubtless had victims of his crimes who would have been appalled at the thought of him going to heaven, but being with Jesus in his final hours transformed his heart.
Ezekiel 18 v23 says: “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” declares the Sovereign LORD. “Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?”
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Last Sunday’s reflection: From Tiny Acorns Mighty Oaks Grow by Michael Goble
Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © Helen Ruffhead