Ah – the joy of learning your theology from country music. I love country music – but this song made me want to puke – but I was in a rental car so I didn’t think that was such a good idea.
What other country music songs make you think twice about the base of your theology? how do you handle praying for your enemies?
Luke 7.27-36 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Leslie Holt
I think it was meant for entertainment and is not to be taken seriously. We can’t be so stuck up in our beliefs that we aren’t able to have (and see) fun every now and again. Lighten up!!
Leslie
Amber
I just finished a book where an elderly man sought after an enemy, a man who took the life of his beloved wife during WWII, supposedly in the name of war and research, but in reality was only acting out of hatred and revenge. This man (the enemy) took the lives of many others hoping to satisfy the pain and anger he felt from unjustly losing his sister during a horrific bombing. After thousands of lives had been lost at his hand, his emptiness remained. The character I mentioned before sought this enemy for 60 years only for the chance to forgive him and to share Christ’s love with him. What a picture of “turning the other cheek”! I pray that God would give me the strength and wisdom to do the same when I am face to face with someone who has done wrong to me, and that I would have the humility to ask for forgiveness in the same manner if I am the one at fault! It is not always my first response to turn the other cheek, or give someone a second chance. Sadly, I can go on the defensive pretty quickly, especially with the people that are closest to me. The good news is I have a Savior who loves me and has saved me from the darkness of my sin so that I can become more and more like Him and through His grace and mercy I can learn to turn the other cheek. It breaks my heart that this song mocks prayer and sees it as a means to try to tear down rather than to build up. 🙁
Ephesians 1:18-21 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”