The Wake-Up Call – “The Way to Burn Your Enemies”

Host: John David Walt (and guests)
Air Date: January 25, 2026
Podcast: The Wake-Up Call by Seedbed

Main Theme

This episode explores the challenging biblical wisdom of responding to enemies with kindness, based on Proverbs 25:21–22 (“heap burning coals on his head”). John David Walt reflects on how radical love toward adversaries is both counterintuitive and Christlike, and invites listeners to reconsider their instinctual approaches to conflict—and their enemies—in light of Jesus' teaching.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Sunday “Practice”—Setting the Spiritual Tone

• John David Walt opens by reframing Sunday as “practice”—preparation for living out faith during the week (00:20).
• He leads a brief prayer and consecration, focusing attention on Christ (01:35).

2. Scripture Focus: Proverbs 25:21–22

• Walt reads and focuses on:

  “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head and the Lord will reward you.” (02:30)

• He notes how this challenges common instincts:

  “A hungry and thirsty enemy sounds like a vulnerable enemy. It may provide an opportunity to defeat my enemy. That would be good, right?... But wisdom teaches us to care for our enemies.” (03:15)

3. Expanding with Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Romans 12:17–21)

• The episode draws parallels to Paul’s instructions:

  "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. ...If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. ...Overcome evil with good." (04:40)

4. The Double Outcomes: Evil for Evil vs. Good for Evil

• Walt highlights the dangers of fighting “fire with fire”:

  “When I give my enemy a taste of his own medicine, I am the one who gets sick.” (05:10)
  “When I repay bad for bad, I escalate the conflict.” (05:22)
  “When I retaliate...I do irreversible damage.” (05:40)

• In contrast, he shares the fruit of returning good for evil:

  “When I return good for evil, I avoid the infection brought on by the toxicity of evil.” (06:10)
  “Responding to evil with good is actually a subversive form of retaliation...heaping burning coals on their head.” (06:35)

5. Understanding “Heaping Burning Coals”

• Acting kindly toward enemies isn’t passive—it confronts their behavior and can lead to their transformation:

  “When you respond to bad with good, it actually has the effect of shaming your enemy...causing them to reevaluate their decision and changing the outcome altogether.” (07:15)
  "Evil cannot be overcome by evil. Darkness cannot drive out darkness. ...You don't destroy a monster by becoming a monster. Hate cannot defeat hate. Because if hate defeats hate, ...hate won and hate never wins." (08:00)

6. Wisdom is “the Imagination of Heaven”

• Walt coins a memorable phrase:

  "Wisdom is the imagination of heaven." (11:00)

• He references James 3:17 on heaven’s wisdom:

  “…the wisdom from heaven ...is first of all pure. Then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit.” (11:20)

7. Practical Reflection and Journal Prompts

• Listeners are invited to recall times when good was returned for evil, and to consider their current adversaries.
• Prompts:
  1. “Can you recall a situation where someone responded to evil with good? What happened?”
  2. “What do you make of this notion of the counterintuitive war of love?”
  3. “Do you have an enemy right now in your life whom you could treat with generosity by helping meet their needs? Would you dare?” (10:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the paradox of loving enemies:

• “The wisdom of repaying evil with good is that it creates the only possibility for evil to be truly overcome.” (07:50)

On the transformational potential of kindness:

• John David Walt & Dad, on ‘killing with kindness’:
  • “That means to just be so good to them and nice to them that they're not going to turn to be ugly...” (13:48)
  • “If you act ugly to your enemy, they'll think, well, I was right about him.” (14:09)
  • “Jesus is the ultimate story of that. ...God didn't give up on us. He went all the way to the cross for us.” (14:34)

On prayer as a first step:

• “I think it may start with praying for our enemies, just beginning to…say their name before God. That's a move. God will respond to that.” (12:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:20 — Sunday as “practice”; spiritual preparation
• 02:30 — Reading of Proverbs 25:21–22
• 04:40 — Romans 12:17–21 tie-in
• 05:10–06:35 — Effects of returning evil vs. good
• 07:15 — What “heaping burning coals” really means
• 08:00 — “Hate never wins,” darkness and monsters
• 10:00 — Reflection prompts and journaling
• 11:00 — “Wisdom is the imagination of heaven”
• 13:38–14:41 — Conversational unpacking, “kill them with kindness”; link to Christ’s example
• 15:07–18:31 — Hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” and reflection on God’s faithfulness
• 18:31 — Closing encouragement to attend church and free resources

Original Tone and Language

• Friendly, reflective, slightly humorous, and deeply encouraging.
• Biblical wisdom is conveyed in storytelling and conversational style, with humility and seriousness for the challenge.
• Invites self-examination and action, with a blend of anecdote and practical spirituality.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode centers on the biblical wisdom of returning kindness for injury—the “counterintuitive war of love.” Walt breaks down the personal, spiritual, and relational costs of vengeance, and the uniquely transformative power of responding to enemies with grace. Drawing from Proverbs, Romans, and the teachings of Jesus, the conversation encourages listeners to move beyond instinct and reflect heaven’s wisdom, even to those who oppose them. Thoughtful prompts and a gentle spirit make the episode an invitation to growth and genuine practice of Christlike love, finished with a hymn celebrating God’s sustaining mercy.