Authority Gone Amok

Fiddler on the Roof was a favorite movie in my family as I was growing up.  I remember my grandpa belting out beloved songs from the musical and quoting profound lines.  One of them reads:

Leibesh: Is there a proper blessing for the czar?
Rabbi: A blessing for the czar? Of course. May God bless and keep the czar... far away from us.  (Rousing laughter ensues).

The czar had political authority over the Jews and often made decisions which caused the Jews great harm.  Do you have a tyrant for a boss?  Is your community leader out of their mind?  Have you strongly disagreed with any president and his administration? What about troublesome people?  Is there someone in your family or circle of friends who thrives on causing distress?  Do you find your parents absolutely unreasonable?  Many of us can answer 'yes' to at least one of those questions.   So, what do we do?

Society has taught us to complain, sue, protest, and riot.  But what does the Bible teach?  Jesus said these words in Matthew 5:43-48, "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Jesus told his followers that they were to be different.  Instead of hating our enemies, we are to show them love.  Instead of cursing our enemies, we are to pray for them.  This is not my human nature.  When people attack me, my human nature desires to attack back.  But relying on our human nature to act in a godly way is asinine.  Why are we supposed to replay kindness for unkindness?  To be honest when everyone else lies?  To pray for those who hate us?  Verse 48 gives us the reason.  Because we are to reflect the character of God our Father.

It is not our mission to destroy our enemies, but rather to point them to Christ.  While verbal or physical destruction might give us some satisfaction, it does nothing for God's kingdom.  God desires for no one to be lost, but for all to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:4).  We are to put our selfish desires aside, and make God's desires paramount in our lives.  As my grandmother always said to me growing up, "Not my will, but Thy will be done."