Some of you intellectual FReepers please answer this question — is it my duty to respect and feed someone whose children will one day threaten the lives of my children?
Will I have been a good parent if I do so?
We should obey the commands of Almighty God, which are:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you. (Proverbs 25:21-22)
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. "BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)
You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:43-45)
The inference, I think, is clear, that we are to love, pray for and do good unto those that think they are our enemies when they are in need. That's not to say that we should not protect ourselves and our families from attackers. Just that by doing good and helping those, who have been taught all their lives that Christians are evil, we show them that the truth is the opposite. The "heaping coals of fire on their heads" is a figurative expression of divine vengeance but also "his conscience would be stung with a sense of former injuries done to his benefactor, and he be filled with shame on account of them, and be brought to repentance for them, and to love the person he before hated." (Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible). The sense is that Christians should be known for gentleness and compassion towards all.
I've read a few news stories recently that talk about Syrian refugees being brought into Israel for hospital treatment of their injuries. Rather than reject their sworn enemies, Israel is reaching out in compassion towards the innocent women, elderly and children that have been caught up in the Syrian uprising. What better way to demonstrate the true nature of the Jewish people here, who, like the Samaritan of Jesus' parable, reached out to the injured victims and did all they could to treat, heal, feed, clothe and protect the weakest? THAT is what changes hearts and minds!