Leaders need to learn to love their enemies

Even if you do not consider yourself a leader,  I think this one is for you.  If you follow Jesus!

To be honest, I don’t think I handle criticism very well.  As I have learned to let go of my need for control, I am  better but I still have a long way to go.  And according to Don Miller, if I am a leader, I better learn how to love my enemies because criticism is unavoidable.  Miller writes

People who lead get criticized, period. You are being criticized because you have not been silent and you have not been passive and that’s a good thing. When somebody criticizes you, it’s a compliment of sorts. Passive people avoid criticism.

When you get criticized you are given the opportunity to show kindness in return, which is a character trait of some of the greatest leaders in the history of the world.

Here are a couple of passages which do not appear to be exclusively written for leaders!

• Matt. 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
• Luke 6:27  “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
  Luke 6:35 But clove your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil

His post includes a cute little video on loving your enemy as well as a sermon by John Piper on loving our enemies.