GOD BLESS NORTH KOREA

Sometimes taking the Bible literally seems ridiculous. In fact, it’s so crazy that even many who demand a literal reading of the Bible do not take it literally. I don’t blame them. At times, it’s hard to believe what’s written in the pages of Scripture.

I’m not referring to seemingly tall tales like the story of a snake tempting two naked people to eat fruit. Nor am I talking about to a the waters of the sea being parted and a nation of slaves escaping or the story of a man being swallowed - and later vomited onto a beach - by a large fish or a prophet being whisked away to heaven by a whirlwind, riding in a chariot of fire.

I am referring to the commands of Jesus to bless those who curse us, love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. These are the commands that, when taken literally, are, not only, completely ridiculous but also seem to be naïve.

But, if we claim to take the Bible literally, then we must pause to consider our support of violence and aggression toward anyone – especially our enemies. This goes beyond not hitting someone back who has hit us.

Jesus asks us to wish our enemies good, not harm. He asks for us to seek their best interest even if it comes at the cost of our best interest; because that’s what love does. He asks us to “do good” to those who hate us, which is another way of saying we need to perform beautiful, gracious acts on their behalf.

We are tempted to think that while his teachings are good, they just don’t work in our world today. Some teach us that we need to do all we can to protect our way of life and ensure our freedoms. At times, this means defending our land and our nation. We have a real time example of this in our world today.

North Korea recently said they were in a “state of war” with South Korea and appear to mounting an offensive. While some dismissed these words and actions as rubbish, others took them more seriously. In the last few days, U.S. F-22 stealth fighter jets were flying about the Korean peninsula.

The presence of these jets is seen, by some, as an emphasis of the United State’s commitment to protect and defend South Korea, should their neighbors to the North decide to attack. It’s no secret that the ideals and philosophy of the North Korean government are at odds with the United States. As a nation, we are obliged and feel that it is our best interest to protect a valued ally like South Korea. From a nationalistic standpoint, this makes sense.

It is the same attitude many in this country have always held. As the thinking goes, if we, or an ally, are threatened, harmed or attacked we will attack you back. When we do, we will hit much harder and will not stop until every enemy is thoroughly decimated. Not only, do many hold to this way of thinking, they enthusiastically support it – even those who hold to a literal reading of the Bible.

Throughout our country, many churches shamelessly fly the flag of the United States and celebrate our nation’s aggression. Their value is not so much “God and Country” but “Country and God” – in that order.

While we would never admit to dismissing the words of Jesus as nonsense, the reality is we don’t need to. The way we live, and our support of national vengeance and aggression toward our enemies says enough. If we are honest, we really don’t take the Bible literally, much less the words of Jesus himself. If we were to take the Bible literally the people of God would seek the highest good for North Korea. Not just for the two-thirds of their population who regularly lack adequate food, but also for its leadership. We would spend time praying for the likes of Kim Jong Un and Pak Pong Ju – asking for God’s goodness, grace and favor to rest on them.

We might even say “God Bless North Korea,” and no longer reserve that phrase only for America. More than this, we would use these words for anyone who is considered and enemy. We might say, “God Bless the Taliban” and “God Bless Iran.”

We would not only say these words, we would mean them. But for this to happen, we would have to uproot our hearts and minds from the soil of this earthly nation in which they are currently planted. Doing so would be our first step in confessing we have not loved our enemy, nor have we sought the highest good for those who hate us.

Only then can we replant our hearts and minds in the grace of the Kingdom of the God who sends rain on the just and the unjust. And from this place, we just might find that we are, at last, taking the Bible far more literally than we ever have before.