What is the Christian’s responsibility toward the people we believe are trying to destroy Christianity, or nullify its influence on our culture?

Jesus forthrightly calls these people “enemies”. But he redefines how we should respond to enemies. His command is that we show them neither scorn nor withdrawal but that we engage with them. “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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?  And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they?  So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Mt 5.44-48)

Let’s unpack Jesus’ command.

“If you do this (seek to bless your enemies), you will be like your Father in heaven, who makes his sun to rise” etc. This means: God blesses everyone. God provides for everyone. God is good to everyone. If we want to be like God (“be children of your Father”), then we must do the same. Don’t just bless people who agree with us. Don’t just bless people who like us or support our causes.

How DO we love our enemies? How CAN we love our enemies?

One way is to stop thinking in the “us” vs “them” narrative. Jesus commands us to think in terms of a different narrative, “there is no them, there is only us”. We are all precious to him, beloved of God, created in his image, precious souls for whom Christ died.

The us vs them narrative is seductive. It lets us blame our problems on other people, which is a cornerstone of American politics: “We would have a better country if we took the power away from (or even got rid of) THOSE PEOPLE.”

Christian humility begins with acknowledging that we are sinners saved by grace, not by our own merit. This should enable us to see the image of God in the people we interact with, even those who disagree with us about everything. This enables us to pray for them, that they be blessed, and to respond when opportunities come to bless them.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t say, “Love your enemies unless they are planning to kill you.” Or “love your enemies unless they’re really evil.” (And he gave this command when there was indeed a cabal, carrying out Satan’s plan, working for his death.)

(It blows my mind when people say that Jesus’ commands were given in a “neutral” society, and that our modern times are so much worse because there is overt opposition to the cause of Christ. Satan has never been neutral, and 21st century American Christians should thank God we have only a remote, abstract understanding of deadly, withering persecution.)

I don’t believe there is a powerful cabal, rubbing their hands with glee over the deaths of Christians, cackling over the shooting of Charlie Kirk etc. But what if there was such an organized group? It’s an honor to have a cabal plotting your death because you stood for the cause of Christ. You’re being like Jesus! So bear it and respond to it the way Jesus did.

Remember Paul. From a Roman prison, with the reality of his impending execution hanging over his soon-to-be-removed head, he wrote, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6.12)

The Roman empire was beginning a long, bloody campaign of persecution against the Church, and Paul knew that the sword hung over his days, just as the cross shadowed Jesus’ during his ministry. He also knew that the people who were precious to him, his brothers and sisters in the church, would likely face hardship and trial and even death for their faith.

So how does he orient them for this struggle? He goes out of his way to say that the enemy is NOT the people, even the worst or most corrupt. The enemy is the dark forces behind their actions, the powers that corrupt and twist them.

The people are precious to God. Jesus died for them. God loves them and wants them to know and love him. We dare not treat them as any less.