Just like with the force, religions have a light and a dark side. Christianity is no exception. Just like in Star Wars, the dark side of Christianity begins with fear. When we as Christians fear “our enemies” we begin to become angry with them. Our anger towards them drives out the love that we should have for them, turning our hearts towards a hatred for them. This hatred leads to suffering both for us and for those we have hatred for. (Thanks Yoda and Star Wars writers for the fear, anger, hate, suffering quote).

The gospel message is full of love for enemies, but somewhere along the way, we have lost sight of this. As we lose sight of this gospel message, we look out at our “enemies” with hatred and contempt and violence in our hearts and we become the stone throwing judges, condemning our enemies to a death that, without grace, we equally deserve. (John 8)

This is why love is such an important part of the gospel. Jesus tells us to love God, love our neighbors, and love our enemies, and that only loving people who are like us gains us nothing. (It’s a struggle for me too, but Jesus helps us grow in this love when we get out of His way). (Matthew 5&6; Mark 12; Paul to Rome in Romans 5; Paul to Corinth in 1 Corinthians 13

I say all of these things because Christians in this world are living in the shadow of the Dark Side. They either fear the people (Muslims as an example) or they fear being punished for the sins of others (LGBTQ+ as an example). John tells us in his first letter that perfect love drives out fear, that fear is based in punishment, and that those who fear have not yet been perfected in love. He precedes these statements with the wisdom that God is love and that when we abide in love, we abide in God and God abides in us. I have not been perfected. I do have fear. I fear those who claim to follow the same Christ I do but have no love for enemies. I fear those who seem to see an influx in Muslim immigrants as an invasion rather than an opportunity to share the same love with them that Jesus shares with us. I pray for all of us to remember God’s love for us so that we no longer fear anyone and we can openly share God’s love with others. (1 John 4)