Repel Evil With Good

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”

- Matthew 5:43-45 NIV

It is human nature to strike back when we are struck, and to insult someone who is insulting us.

Nothing is more natural, or at least more common, than the urge to hit back. We may even feel a moral duty to defend ourselves, and 90% of the time, that is what we do. But the better path, albeit very rare, is to repel evil with good. To hit back is human, to forgive and to pray for those who persecute us is divine.

“The good deed and the evil deed are not equal. Repel by that which is better; then behold, the one between whom and thee there is enmity shall be as if he were a loyal, protecting friend.” (Surah 41:34) The Bible says simply “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”(Romans 12:21 NIV) We do this by being patient and gentle with those who are being mean to us, by forgiving those who have hurt us, even if they did so intentionally, and in short by acting lovingly to all, and especially those who don’t deserve it. The world teaches us to hit back, and to hit back harder to teach them a lesson. God teaches us to be kind and loving to gain a friend and ally. An eye for an eye is a system of justice that leaves the world blind.

Turning the other cheek and praying for those who persecute you makes the other see the error of his ways and creates a more loving world.

– Christopher Simon