In Todd Nettleton’s book on the persecuted church, When Faith is Forbidden, he writes about visiting some ministry partners in Ethiopia. One of his friends, Pastor Haji, serves in a dangerous area of the country where militant Islam often attacks his home and family. Pastor Haji showed Todd the charred scars on his home where a mob of angry Muslims tried to burn down his house. Then Pastor Haji invited Todd to take a short trip down the road to meet an evangelist friend, whom we will refer to as “Graham.” Turns out, Evangelist Graham was the man who led Pastor Haji to faith in Christ. According to Todd, here’s what happened next:
“As we stood outside the hut, Pastor Haji had his arm around Evangelist Graham. Nodding his head toward his friend, Pastor Haji spoke five words I will never forget. “I used to beat him.” What? “I used to beat him.” Pastor Haji went on to explain that as a young man he was the leader of a group of radical Islamic soldiers and part of their holy duty to Allah was to harass and attack Christians. One of those they attacked was Evangelist Graham, the man now smiling with Pastor Haji’s arm draped loosely across his shoulder. In spite of the beatings, Evangelist Graham refused to retaliate. Instead, he showed Haji love, mercy and prayed for conversion. It made no sense to Haji and eventually he was won to the Lord by Evangelist Graham. Islamic friends were not happy with Haji’s decision. In fact, he spent a year in jail for his new profession of faith. He fell victim to the same violent tactics he had once used against Christians. But, that’s the power of the Gospel and an example of how no one is beyond the reach of God’s amazing grace.”[1]
Wow! What an incredible story and a timely reminder of what Paul wrote in Romans 12: “19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Interestingly, the Paul who wrote those words was also converted to Christ in much the same way as Pastor Haji. On the Damascus Road, Paul met the very Jesus he was persecuting, and his life took another trajectory (Acts 9).
Every act of grace and mercy done in the face of evil provides the opportunity for something that cannot be achieved through “getting even”— namely, reconciliation, redemption, transformation. This is what Jesus did on the cross. He absorbed the evil, sin and hatred of mankind and transformed it into redemption for you and me. Love doesn't defeat evil through the exercise of power. Love defeats evil by absorbing its harm and transforming it into good.
Just imagine - The apostle
Paul entered heaven to the cheers of those he martyred, because that's how the Gospel
works. I wonder how many times that same scene has replayed in heaven? May the
Lord give us that same supernatural ability to love our enemies. -DM
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