Assuming Friendship in a World of Enemies
When it comes to our relationships with others, Jesus taught us a valuable lesson: “Whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:39). In essence, unless someone openly opposes the gospel, we can consider them a friend. This mindset opens up a world of possibilities, revealing numerous friends waiting to be discovered.
A Different Perspective
However, it’s easy to misinterpret Jesus’ words as “Whoever is not for us is against us.” This alternative viewpoint creates a reality where the world is largely populated by our enemies. These two statements represent fundamentally different worldviews, and the way we think about the world determines which reality we experience.
Choosing to Assume Friendship
Personally, I prefer the worldview that assumes friendship instead of anticipating enmity. Unfortunately, as Christians, we’ve often created unnecessary enemies by drawing artificial lines in the sand and accusing those on the other side of being adversaries. We’ve failed to give them a chance, and instead, we’ve had to maintain a steady supply of enemies to justify our perceived animosity towards the world.
Representing the God of Second Chances
This behavior is inconsistent with the nature of God, who is abundant in grace and second chances. If God had not been merciful, He would never have called us His friends or given us a first chance. Therefore, it’s essential to assume there are many friends of God waiting to be found.
Entertaining Strangers
The writer of Hebrews offers valuable advice: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). By giving others the benefit of the doubt, we create an environment where friendships can flourish. This is an excellent place to begin building relationships with those who may not share our beliefs.
A Fresh Start
Let’s adopt a new approach, one that assumes friendship and gives others a chance. By doing so, we’ll not only represent God more accurately, but we’ll also discover a world full of potential friends waiting to be found.
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