"Love Your Enemies and Others"

The normal "give and take" of a group of cops was running high.  The bantering turned to a class they had taken having to do with sensitivity and diversity.  As the subject began to shift as happens with people such as these I overheard  something that perked up my ears and I listened to hear all I could.

One officer said something to the effect, I do not have to like nor do I have to respect the person I deal with, but what I do have to do is to treat them with respect.  In the practical world of these cops when contacting the public, it matters little who the person is, their criminal history, their attitude, the officer's bias, how they treat the officer, and/or their demeanor etc.!  What matters is that they be treated with respect.

That overheard conversation along with a blog which spoke to loving your enemies, occasions the following thought.  When the one who follows Christ is commanded to love people such as one's neighbor, one's enemies, etc. such love may include any of a variety of feelings but it must go beyond those feelings to how a person acts and how the other is treated.  There was no indication that faith played much of a part in any of the officers at that table yet they spoke words people of faith needed and need to hear.  So here is the question.

Does love not require the one who would love to go beyond feelings in how he treats his neighbor and even his enemy?

The story of the Good Samaritan is a case in point.  The Samaritan man was an outcast, thought to be an inferior person of an inferior "mixed breed" race.  The person he helped was in all likelihood opposed to the Samaritans.  In fact that very day he could have chosen to not associate himself with the man, said something to defame the man, and most certainly seen him as unclean and undesirable.  The divide between the two races in general and if they conformed to those divides, between the two men ran as deep as the social mores of the two cultures.  There clearly was potential for discrimination.  There was precious little that would have united them--especially emotionally.

However, the Good Samaritan did love the victim, not in emotion but in his ethical actions--in his sacrificial actions.  That is the whole notion behind "doing good to those who take advantage of you!"   It is a volitional action not because of how one reacts emotionally but despite that reaction.  Love is an action not because of an emotion but despite the emotion.

With that understanding then love is an action born of volition and those decisions includes but not limited to the following.  It is...

To be patient toward and with the impatient person as well as being tolerant with the intolerant.  

To be gentle with those who speak and act in an hurtful and harsh manner.  

To not be resentful in reaction another's successes.

To patiently listen when tempted to boast and thus best another's achievements.

To demonstrate the highest ideals of character no matter the situation.

To be unselfish, not seeking one's own way in situations that would justify same.  

To be one who interacts not reacts to adverse treatment.  

To turn a blind eye and thus look beyond some mistreatment by another.

 ...and the list goes on and on.

This to say the least is greatly misunderstood by many.  So the sum of the matter is this.

To love is a volitional action and if emotional attachment is involved so much the better.

May we go forth as did the Good Samaritan and love in action not just in attitude and word!