Alissou, a Christian from Lagos Nigeria asked;

“Is it good to pray against enemies?”

What a terrific yet direct question, Alissou asked. The answer to this question directly affects every Christian… even me.

To put it more distinctly:

Should Christians pray against those persons (people) who say and declare that they are Christians enemies (i.e., Muslims, Atheists, people who want to kill Christians, people who purposely make fun of Christians, people who just don’t like Christians and hate Christians, etc.)?

First, who is a Christian?

First let us define who is and isn’t a Christian.

Christians are people who have repented (asked forgiveness) of their sins and who follow the teachings of Christ Jesus as directly taught in the Holy Bible and only the Holy Bible alone. Christians do not follow anything from the Book of Mormon (Mormons), the Watch Tower (Jehovah Witnesses), or other cults.

Answer to Alissou’s Question

The short answer to Alissou’s question is;

No, it is not good for Christians to pray against our enemies.

What does Christ Jesus Teach?

In fact, Christians are taught by Christ Jesus to love and pray for our enemies.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:44 (NIV)

Christians are taught by Christ Jesus to love and pray for (not against) our enemies (Matthew 5:44). We are to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them which despitefully use us, persecute us, and want us dead.

This is what God did for us (you and me). While we were against Him and not loving Him, God blessed us, loved us, and stayed faithful to us.

To love our Christian enemies:
1) Pray for their conversion; that they come to repent their sins and take Christ Jesus as their Savior.
2) Pray that the evil they do may be restrained so to not hurt others.
3) Pray that they will quickly receive God’s divine justice.

Christians (as former enemies of God), you and I should be gracious and grateful that we are allowed to pray for our current enemies, because we are secure in the knowledge that Jesus will hear us. We should be thankful enough for the grace of God that we want even our enemies to receive God’s grace too.

But if they refuse and harden their hearts against the one who would spare them (as many have and others will), then we must ask that they receive the divine retribution due everyone apart from the righteousness of Christ.

What does the World Teach?

The World (those who have yet to become a follower of Christ Jesus), teaches us to hate and destroy enemies. The teaching of the World can be seen all around us in our everyday life.

To love our enemies and pray for our enemies is not the answer I (nor many other Christians) prefer. I would much rather pray against my enemies and act against them as the World teaches. Yet, hate and destroying our enemies is not what Christ Jesus teaches Christians to do.

Christians are not only taught to love and pray for our enemies, we are also taught to not be conformed to this World’s teachings, i.e., the teachings of people who do not follow Christ Jesus.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

So, it is clear that Christians are taught to love and pray for their enemies and not be conformed to this World’s teachings.

Are You Following Christ Jesus?

God does not send anyone to Hell nor does He take pleasure in having people go there.

“… ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!…'” (Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11)

Yet God loves you (wicked person) and doesn’t want to impose Himself on you and thus only those people who chose to not be with God go to Hell per their own choice to not be with God.

I suggest that you be wise, chose today to be with God. Tell Christ Jesus right now that you are sorry for all the wrong you’ve knowingly done and ask His forgiveness and tell Him that you want Him to be your Savior.