In general, people can think about enemies in an abstract way that has little to do with the people who really arouse their animosity.
However, your enemy could be a colleague with different political views who makes you feel like you're wrong about what you think.
As talk of loving one’s enemies becomes a more common topic of discussion in public again, Christians shouldn’t forget to explain what is meant by the word “enemy.” In general, people can think about enemies in an abstract way that has little to do with the people who really arouse their animosity. However, your enemy could be a colleague with different political views who makes you feel like you're wrong about what you think.
It isn’t as hard to think about loving enemies in an abstract and detached way until you remember that person who votes differently from you at the office. It can even be natural to dehumanize that person on some level by thinking of them as inferior to yourself and refusing to treat them with the same sense of fairness that you would show other people.
Loving an enemy such as a colleague at work with oppositional views on how society should be governed would involve recognizing that that person is still a human being and as much of one as you are. It doesn’t mean that you have to agree with what they say and you shouldn’t even pretend to believe that they are right if you genuinely feel they are wrong, but it does mean that you should still treat them the way you would want to be treated when you interface with them.
Standing tall on your opinion is tough, especially in this world where everyone is delusional. We may think that who opposes us are our enemies. But they really are not. They can be better as friends as they will bring their opinion on the table and you all get to talk it out, enlighten each other.
Hatred is not what our religion teaches us. God told us to be kind and compassionate and we can go a step further by befriending anyone who others may consider an enemy.
We hear a lot of topics about enemies, opposition, and those against whom we must fight or take a stand. It is the basis of political discourse on the airwaves. We look upon so many classes and categories of people as our enemies, as the opposition, as those against whom we must struggle to defend the gospel or our way of life. On the other hand, Jesus had a very different take on enemies. They were not to be engaged in battle, but turned into friends. They were to be forgiven, loved, and blessed. Somehow, we seem to have forgotten that motif from his teachings, perhaps even forgetting how to identify our real enemies.
I remember when the Lord directed me to speak a blessing over an enemy who brought harm to me. With tears and sadness in my face, and pain in my soul, I did. The person continued acting as an enemy, but it broke the chain off my heart. The love of God saved me from bitterness and unforgiveness. I just continue to show kindness and it gives peace of mind in me and happiness.
Loving our enemies means seeing them as human beings in need of the Father’s love. We have to be more understanding and pray for them.