Goku's Radical Love - By Adam Paul

We recently lost an absolute legend. I don’t know that there’s ever been a more influential TV show in existence than Dragon Ball Z. When news broke of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama’s passing, social media blew up with fan art, tributes, and heartfelt goodbyes. From his iconic artwork, to his epic storytelling, Toriyama-san blended action, comedy, and drama together for titanic battles with high stakes, and even higher power levels (over 9,000!!!)

Throughout Dragon Ball, there’s tons of thought-provoking topics to delve into. Gods, aliens, death and resurrection, spending thirty minutes staring someone down screaming at the top of your lungs. But one thing about the show stands out to me as a poignant example of a principle many of us would find very challenging.

Goku is a sometimes over-eager fighter with a heart of gold. As such, he squares off with all manner of colorful, disreputable, and outright malevolent foes. Yet, from the likes of Yamcha, Oolong, and Tien Shinhan, to his climactic showdowns with Piccolo, Android’s 17 and 18, Buu, Beerus, and of course the grumpiest of boys, Vegeta, one interesting trend starts to emerge. Every single one of the characters I just mentioned began as an antagonist to our plucky, wild-haired martial artist. And every single one would eventually come to call him ally. Even friend! We constantly see Goku extend a hand of mercy and friendship to those who, just moments before, were fighting with everything they had to try and kill him. Goku even brings Frieza, arguably his greatest enemy of all, back from the dead to fight by his side!

In the Bible, God calls his people to a radical kind of love that most would find unthinkable! Of course we’re supposed to love our family, our friends, even our neighbours. But Jesus, takes things a step further. He calls us to show love even to those people we would consider our enemies (just read Matt 5:43-47). People who hate us, mistreat us, stand in opposition to everything we are and hold dear. And yet here we are, being called to love them? Ridiculous! But think about the love that God shows us. God hates sin. Sin is completely, totally, and utterly antithetical to who He is at His very core. It’s an afront to His very nature. He cannot tolerate sin in His presence, and there is nothing He hates more. And we humans are just positively riddled with sin! It’s at the root of each of our hearts. “[B]ut God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8).

Level Up Challenge: So, who are the people in your own life that could be considered your enemies? Maybe think of just one in particular. What’s something you could do this week to show love to them, even if they don’t deserve it? It’ll be tough, but…you never know. Maybe, like Goku, you’ll gain a new friend along the way!

Written by Adam Paul