Paul again continues his discussion of the renewing of our minds by addressing how we treat our enemies. Paul does not make the assumption that if you live the Christian life in love, everyone will love you and everyone will be at peace with you. We have no control over others’ actions, attitudes, or motives, but we are responsible for our own conduct. What we do in the face of evil speaks to the transformed life and renewed mind.
So, Paul begins with those who persecute us. Instead of following our natural instincts toward those who persecute us, Paul tells us to bless them. The renewing of the mind calls us to think differently of our enemies. Paul tells us elsewhere that Christ died for His enemies. Even on the cross, Christ prayed for those crucifying Him. This does not mean that Christ approved of what they were doing. In the same way, we do not approve of the conduct of our persecutors, while we still bless them.
This does not mean that we ignore the suffering caused by evil. Paul tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Genuine Christian love recognizes suffering and cares for those who suffer. Blessing a persecutor does not mean excusing persecution. Paul also reminds us that we should live in harmony with one another, without thinking ourselves superior to others. The renewed mind doesn’t place itself above those it is called to love.
Paul tells us not to “repay evil for evil.” The renewed mind does not conform to the pattern of the world. We do not return evil for evil. What others do to us should not be the deciding factor in how we act toward them. We don’t always control our immediate attitudes or emotional reactions, but we are responsible for how we respond to them. This is not to say that justice is therefore ignored. Paul will explain in chapter 13 how God ordains for these things to be handled, but we do not take that justice into our own hands.
Paul commands us, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Paul understands that reconciliation is a two-way street. Though we bless those who persecute us and avoid taking vengeance, peace may not always be up to us. Sometimes, some people will simply not want to live at peace with us. We do not control them, but the renewed mind says, “As far as it depends on me, I will live at peace.” Live in harmony with one another.
We do not avenge ourselves because God has told us that vengeance belongs to Him. God will handle what we cannot control. We must trust His justice because it is perfect and good. But God does not simply tell us to sit passively by. We are told to feed our enemies if they are hungry and give them water to drink if they are thirsty. We repay evil with good. To be fair, we should also repay good with good as well. Paul already told us above that we should outdo each other in showing honor. But when it comes to those who end up our enemies, we repay their evil with good.
The Christian entrusts justice to God. We do not take vengeance for what others do to us. We are to do good, no matter what. We do not use the evil that someone else does to give us license to do evil as well. The renewed mind understands that Christ went to the cross, not because we had done good to Him, but because we had done evil toward God (Romans 5:10).
-steve