Editorial March 24, 1934 Issue

Overcoming Evil with Good

Duncan Sinclair

Paul writes in the twelfth chapter of Romans, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good," and, "Recompense to no man evil for evil." The apostle is stating in his own words the teaching of Christ Jesus; for the Master said, "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil." Wonderful it is to find Paul, the erstwhile persecutor of the first Christians, whole-heartedly on the side of him who so profoundly understood and so marvelously demonstrated the law of Love!

How persistent has been the doctrine of "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth"! And notwithstanding the teaching and example of Jesus and his disciples, it still has a sinister hold over many. Even children appear to come under its influence; for is not the tendency of some of them to retaliate when something is done to them which they may regard as annoying? It is similar with grown-up people; the tendency with many of them is to strike back on the least provocation. Evil is so generally regarded as personal, and as having power to injure, that men seem ever ready to resent what they believe is directed at them to hurt them, and to use the same weapon in self-defense.

Some of the laws of civilized nations show a similar tendency; for not always is it the aim of a law to reclaim the evildoer. This was probably truer of certain of the laws of past generations than of those of modern times; for sometimes the punishment inflicted under these laws of former days was absurdly out of proportion to the fault. It is gratifying to find the desire to reform the evildoer increasing, taking practical form, and superseding mere punishment, which by itself is seldom if ever reformatory.

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