Who Do You Pray For?

It is easy and natural 

To pray for those we love,

The ones who come quickest to mind

The ones we are comfortable praying for, who we KNOW need us, who don't propose a conflict in our ideology. 

But to think outside

Our immediate circle,

our comfort zone,

and what we know -

to pray for those 

who don't agree,

who might cut us to the quick

who might resent and hate:

Therein lies the power of Christ. 

Help those you don't like. Especially those who've hurled hurt at you.

Those who make you uncomfortable. 

Those who we don't see and are easy to forget. In countries without clean water. With strife. With terror.

Pray for terrorists. 

They need the love and forgiveness of God more than anyone.

Pray for murderers 

Pray for rapists. 

Their hearts need healing. 

To take advantage of another human being takes a certain error in constitution 

But judging who they are as being different than us, makes us no different

We all have the capacity for evil

We all have capacity for harm

We decide were "better," "holier" by not acting on it. 

And then punish and criminalize those who do. 

Instead of working to understand why and how we can help - 

We stand by, point fingers, lock them in a cage and wash our hands of them. Leaving them to rot for centuries and forgetting their existence. 

Or even worse, we take their lives. As tho we are God and can make that judgement.

Where are the true followers of Christ? 

No, we cannot live in a land of lawlessness. And yes, people need to be protected from those who wish them harm. But while we pray only for the victims and scorn the abusers, we're no better. We're no closer to ending the suffering. 

Think this is extreme? 

Remember that as Christ is dying on the cross he asks the Father to forgive the sins of those responsible for his murder "for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34). And let us not forget that His will for us is to be "merciful, as your Father is also merciful" (Luke 6:36), and to treat our enemies with love, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21). 

Is it easy? Absolutely not. Do we all instinctually wish harm on those who harm us and/or our loved ones? Of course - it's human nature. But we have been given a choice. I choose love. Do you?