The Torah endorses stoning Sabbath breakers. Jesus did not! The Torah endorses stoning adulterers. Jesus did not! Moses thought God wants us to kill Sabbath-breakers. The Torah came by Moses. Grace and truth came though Jesus Christ.

Jesus knows that most of the time, most people cannot bear to be told that killing in the name of freedom is just another word for being a slave to systemic sin.

When your city is built upon violence, freedom is just another word for killing your brother. But when your city is built upon love, freedom is just another word for being your brother's keeper.

An enemy is someone whose story you haven't heard.

It is SO tempting to turn Christianity into "Us vs. Them" triumphalism. It plays to the crowd and feels good. But we must not. It's satanic!

The easiest way to unite people is around a common enemy; a scapegoat; Us vs. Them. It produces great energy and strong unity. It feels good, even holy. It's also satanic.

The Old Testament is the inspired telling of the story of Israel coming to know their God. Along the way assumptions were made and they didn’t get everything right. Keep reading the Bible until you come to Jesus and then center your reading of all Scripture in the light of Christ.

Jesus has ideas about enemies — we should love them.

Jesus has ideas about violence — we should renounce it.

Jesus has ideas about retaliation — we should be willing to suffer.