The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Third in the Series: "Forgiven and Forgiving"

"Facing" Our Enemies

Matthew 5:38-48; Romans 12:9-21

TRACKING THE WORD
Forgiveness is the most effective way to resist evil, face our enemies and redeem lives and relationships that sin distorts, disrupts and destroys.

1. Forgiveness is at the CENTER of Christian hope for personal relationships as well as world change.

4 Basic Principles of Biblical Forgiveness:

a. Forgiveness is the loving challenge of Jesus for the healing of broken relationships.

b. Forgiveness is the only way out of the deadly cycle of resentment, retaliation, and hatred.

c. Forgiveness, like healing, is a process that takes place in a timely and deeply personal way.

d. Forgiveness is made possible and assisted by Jesus, our source of forgiveness.

2. Forgiveness is the only way FORWARD in the face of evil and enemies.

6 Choices in Forgiving Our Enemies:

a. Refuse to try to repay evil with evil.

Romans 12:17, 19, 21; Matthew 5:38-39

b. Recognize and reckon with the real enemy at work behind hurtful people and situations.

Ephesians 6:10-13

c. Resist "enemy formation," the process of unnecessarily "demonizing" people and institutions.

Ephesians 6:10-13

d. Reconstruct your perception of an enemy by trying to give them a human "face."

Romans 12:9-18

e. Respond to evil or an enemy in a way that counters abuse with dignity and an opportunity for redemption.

Matthew 5:38-48

f. Return love for hatred, kindness for insult, blessing for persecution.

Romans 12:14, 20; Matthew 5:38-48

GROWTH & ACTION POINTS
Explore and respond to the following statements in personal journaling and/or small group discussion

1. List or share in your group some actions or situations that you think are evil. Based on the points in "Tracking the Word," how is it possible to distinguish evil from people who act in evil ways? Why do you think this is an important step in making a Christ-like response?

2. Journal or discuss: What makes forgiving someone who has done evil so hard? What attitudes or conversations ("enemy formation") do we sometimes engage in that makes it even harder to forgive? How might we begin to "face" (literally, put a human face on) an evil-doer or enemy?

3. Instead either capitulating to evil or resisting it with violence, what creative alternatives does Jesus offer in Matthew 5:38-48? What makes this possible?

MARKINGS & WAYPOINTS
Insights on being forgiven and forgiving others

I HAD TO FORGIVE HITLER "Not to forgive imprisons me in the past and locks out all potential for change. I thus yield control to another, my enemy, and doom myself to suffer the consequences of the wrong. I once heard an immigrant rabbi make an astonishing statement: 'Before coming to America, I had to forgive Adolf Hitler,' he said. 'I did not want to bring Hitler inside me to my new country.'" - Philip Yancy in What's So Amazing About Grace?

STEPPING OVER OUR ANGER "There is so much to forgive. But if we are willing to see our own parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents as people like ourselves with a desire to love but also with many unfulfilled needs, we might be able to step over our anger, our resentments, or even our hatred, and discover their limited love is still real love, a love for which to be grateful." - Henri Nouwen

HOW TO ANNOY AN ENEMY "Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde


RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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