Praying For Our Enemies

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" Matthew 5:44

Last night as I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across a poster that said "Pray For Dzhokhar" with a picture of Dzokhar Tsarneav, who was shot, captured and hospitalized for his involvement in the Boston marathon. Or at least, to be legally fair, until everything is played out in court,  his alleged involvement.

The poster elicited hundreds of comments, ranging from conspiracy theory to outright anger that one would suggest we should pray for someone like this.  As this is a church blog, I am refraining from posting any of their comments, as the language on both sides of the issue would be considered both inappropriate and offensive.

People are angry. They want vengeance. Others look at the pictures of this young man, who looks meek and inoffensive, and  cry out for mercy because, after all, he's a 19 year-old kid. Who knows how much influence his older brother had over him?

While that's not a bad question, it's also one that is for the legal system to decide.  I'm also not convinced that 19 is so young one doesn't know they are participating in a horrific senseless act.  But again that's for the courts to decide. What I want to look at today is why we, as Christians, should pray for Dzokhar. It has nothing to do with his age or how skinny and helpless he looks. (Both are arguments I have seen.)

As Christians, we should pray for Dzokhar because Jesus tells us to pray for him.  In the Scripture above, Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies. When we refuse to do this, we are removing Jesus from the Lordship of our lives. If Jesus is Lord then we must obey what he tells us to do, even if it doesn't make sense to us. We must do it even if it goes against our nature.

We should pray for him because it was for this young man Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. You see, Jesus didn't just die for all of us nice people in church so that we can go to heaven with Him, and feel better about ourselves while we are waiting. Jesus looked through time and space to the most evil people in the world and died for them that they might be redeemed.  
 
Praying for Dzokhar reminds us that there is no one so far from God that he can't change them and transform them.  John Wesley believed that Jesus died for all.  We still have to come, ask to be forgiven of our sins and be transformed by a relationship with Jesus. But that offer is always available to us. Even to people like this young man. We should be grateful for this, for many of us have loved ones we desperately want to find Christ. It's comforting to know that God's love and grace always pursues us.

We should pray for Dzokhar because he is one of us. In other words, a sinner. "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23) Notice the word All. All of us have sinned. All of us deserve death, as our sin separates us from a Holy God. God sees all sin the same. He despises it. He doesn't categorize it as bad sin, and not so bad sin. Sin is sin.  When we pray for someone like this, it's not that we sympathize with them. But it does serve as a reminder that none of us deserve God's grace. It's a gift. If Jesus can change us, can He not change this young man?

We should pray for Dzokher because we have a big God. God is big enough to change even this young man. If God can create universe by speaking it into existence.  If indeed He triumphs over all evil, is he not big enough to deal with this situation? Do we believe God is who He says He is? I pray because I need a God who is bigger than evil, bigger than my situations. How about you?

Finally we pray for Dzokhar because there is no better way to destroy evil than not give into it. When we pray for our enemies, it takes the power they have over us away. We do not let the bitter root of hate poison our hearts. We are not fearful anymore. We do not panic. We do not have unrest in our hearts.  Praying for someone like this does not mean we are asking that they escape the consequences of their actions. Far from it. It simply means we will not be controlled by these events. Attacks like this are all about causing fear, panic and a feeling of a loss of control. When we pray for our enemies we take control back and put it in the hands of God.

I pray because I need a big, loving, forgiving, all-powerful God who holds my life, all of life, in His hands. What about you?

In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Brian Jones <><