Several things strike me in this message.  First off, we in America are rarely ever persecuted; our idea of an "enemy" is basically centered around those who hold different beliefs and have chosen different world views. For myself, I can say that I have never experienced physical or verbal abuse because of Christ. Nor would I want to.

Secondly, I have this overwhelming thought that too often those who have different beliefs or different lifestyle practices are labeled as "enemies". Using a small example, in my own relationships with those of the GLTB crowd, I have heard many times that they have felt spurned by the "church". Big examples can be drawn from the controversy surrounding Proposition 8 in California as well. "We" have succeeded at sending the message that GLTB folks are wrong, unwanted and condemned. This flies in the face of, if I heard correctly, what Shannon spoke about.

For myself, it has been helpful to separate the action from the person. I believe, correct me if I am wrong, God has made it abundantly clear that He loves the person, but hates the sin. It is my observation that we tend to bind the action to the person, at least amongst the people I know and live with, including myself. Even in the sermon, Pastor Shannon gave the example of "Mike", and how he was labeled as a "jerk". When I can see the person as being a person, created in the image of God yet born in the lineage of Adam, and when I can successfully see that person as beloved of God despite the actions and choices that person makes, I find it much easier to extend love and grace. To my shame, that is not very easy at this point in my life.

Labels can be horrible things.