“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matthew 5:43-47 NIV)
I spent almost all of last week in bed or on the couch trying to recover from the flu. Thankfully, I had streaming movies and TV to keep me occupied. (I’ve always found it very difficult to read when I’m sick.) One movie I watched was “The Kingdom,” a movie about FBI agents trying to solve a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia. If one word could capture the gist of this movie, it is hate. The main FBI character said he would kill all the terrorists responsible. The organizer of the attack whispered to his grandson as he lay dying: “Do not fear them; we will kill them all.” Sadly, this pretty much captures what is happening in many parts of the world—a cycle of hate and death.
I also watched another movie, an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary entitled, “The 16th Man. It tells the true story of Nelson Mandela’s use of the 1995 Rugby World Cup to bring hate-torn South Africa together after his election as the first black president. The whites interviewed said they originally feared Mandela’s release from prison because it was the white government which had made him suffer for over 25 years. They were sure he would be angry and feared he would seek revenge. Yet, that is not what happened. Even before his election, Mandela had already set his sights on using rugby—a white man’s game—and the Springboks, the national team and a despised symbol of white rule to the blacks, as a means to bridge the divide between the two races. One of the most powerful scenes is when Mandela dons a Springbok hat in front of a throng of supporters and many boo. In response, he explains how important rugby is to the whites, but also emphasizes the Springboks are the national team representing all South Africans. He exhorts them for the sake of unity and peace to support the team in the World Cup.
What allowed Mandela to be such a transformative figure in the history of South Africa and of the world was his ability to forgive his enemies. And make no mistake, they were indeed enemies. One former white leader said he was dismayed by Mandela’s release from prison and thought, rather, he should have been hung for his crimes instead. Yet, when he saw Mandela’s forgiveness play out in meaningful dialogue with those who imprisoned him, the man’s hatred dissipated.
And the 1995 World Cup did indeed unite South Africans just as Mandela had envisioned. Blacks and Whites joined together, putting aside their hate for one another, to cheer on the Springboks, who went on to win the tournament. Sadly, after Mandela left office, the voices of hate began to return and have grown louder over time.
The truth is, what Mandela was able to do is so hard. To forgive hateful acts and injustice is not natural. And it seems to equate in people’s minds the same as letting them go unpunished. So they seek revenge.
This is what makes Jesus’ command so radical, yet so practical. Imagine what the world would be like if it were put into practice. Imagine if Palestinians were able to forgive Israelis and they the Palestinians. Or if the warring factions in Syria would exchange hate for forgiveness. Or even our political leaders in Washington instead of seeking to crush their opponents would be willing to put past disputes behind and work together for the common good of the country. Hate and revenge bring on continual misery, but forgiveness brings freedom—freedom from a cycle of hate, injustice, and revenge.
Today, recognize the power of forgiveness of those you despise, hate, or merely dislike at some level. It will be hard, but it will set you free from misery and make possible peace with your enemies, whoever they may be.
© Jim Musser 2014
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