Can you really love your enemies?

Jesus Christ once made an extraordinarily radical claim. In Matthew 5:44 he commands his disciples to:

‘love your enemies’.

This command is radically counter to our culture and natural human inclinations. So much so that the late famed atheist journalist Christopher Hitchens despised the concept of loving enemies and said that “We have to hate our enemies and try to destroy them before they destroy us.”

But this approach only perpetuates cycles of violence, animosity, payback and retribution. This calcifies divisions and ensures reconciliation and forgiveness are never possible.

Yet Jesus offers a radically different vision towards enemies: Love.

Reflecting the character of God himself.

Radical, extravagant, generous love, even for those opposed to us. And this approach can lead to peace, reconciliation and a far better world.