A talk I gave at BCN in EPIC on Matthew 5:38-47

1. Love Your Enemies Text feedback to937.387.8398

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6. What kind of person? Text feedback to937.387.8398

7. We respond to violence by… …Accepting their judgment of us. …Judging them in return. …Trying to even the scales. Text feedback to937.387.8398

8. Text feedback to937.387.8398 “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Matthew 5:38

9. The imbalance is always worse in the victim’s eyes. Text feedback to937.387.8398

10. Violence dehumanizes. Jesus wants to re-humanize us. Text feedback to937.387.8398

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12. Text feedback to937.387.8398 “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.” Matthew 5:43-44

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14. Text feedback to937.387.8398 “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.” Romans 5:8-10

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16. Text feedback to937.387.8398 “Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

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18. Text feedback to937.387.8398 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Matthew 5:38-44

19. Text feedback to937.387.8398 “Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 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…” Matthew 5:38-44

20. Going theextra mile Text feedback to937.387.8398

21. Lovere-humanizes. Text feedback to937.387.8398

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24. How do we respond in Love Should I just get over it? How was my humanity diminished? Can I respond so that I… …affirm my own humanity? …affirm the humanity of my enemy? Can I make it fun, funny or silly? Text feedback to937.387.8398

25. Practice makesPerfect! Text feedback to937.387.8398

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27. Violence dehumanizes. Lovere-humanizes. Text feedback to937.387.8398