Article September 11, 1965 Issue

Loving One's Enemies

MARK NATHANS

From a human standpoint it seems only natural that one should hate his enemies and love his friends. This attitude was strongly rebuked by our Master, Christ Jesus. In his Sermon on the Mount he told his followers (Matt. 5:43, 44): "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."

How wise this counsel is! Vindictiveness not only involves a lowering of one's own standards, but does nothing to heal the situation; whereas love has the power to transform one's enemy into a friend. Is not this the only true way of overcoming one's enemy?

Beginning on page 8 of "Miscellaneous Writings" by Mrs. Eddy is an article entitled "Love Your Enemies," which will repay careful study by anyone who thinks he has an enemy. The article opens with a number of pertinent questions. "Who is thine enemy that thou shouldst love him? Is it a creature or a thing outside thine own creation?" asks our Leader. She continues, "Can you see an enemy, except you first formulate this enemy and then look upon the object of your own conception?" These searching questions point to the fact that an enemy does not exist outside of fallible human consciousness.

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