Love Your Enemies | Angel Maldonado

In this powerful session from the 2020 National Gathering, Angel Maldonado challenges Christians to live out Jesus' radical command to love their enemies—a call that begins not with neighborly affection but with active love toward those who oppose us. Drawing from Matthew 5:43–48, Maldonado confronts the modern tendency to personify ideologies, turning political figures, cultural movements, or entire groups into enemies. He illustrates how easily we project fear and hostility onto others—whether it's police, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, or even mask-wearing citizens—while ignoring the deeper spiritual call to compassion. Through a personal story of ministering to Melina, a transgender high school football player, and her atheist brother Gerald, Maldonado shows how love rooted in humility and practical care can break down walls, transform lives, and lead to discipleship. He urges listeners to stop seeking ideological victories and instead lead with compassion, echoing Jesus’ example of feeding enemies and seeking understanding over winning arguments.