“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’
I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.
This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.”
Thank you Evan, very interesting and loving. Once I heard this Truth when I asked, who is my enemy: it is only the false claim of animal magnetism. And we learn in Christian Science animal magnetism is a false concept and therefore is nothing and consequently can do nothing. So – we can love our socalled enemies. This is true because God is all, the only power and only good!
Very apt
I don’t have enemies . I try to practice the love for everyone.
Yes–and I admit the present political climate in the USA has been a big boost toward learning tnis. In the past I have never questioned antipathy toward some candidates, but many thoughtful articles and comments in Christian Science magazines and elsewhere recently have offered a boost toward rethinking. Given today’s extreme challenges I saw–at last– the need for a huge re-think. I finally awakened to inner peace, and, yes, even Love’s background for all sides. Praise God!
Why is this quote so great if “Matter is not real”?
Hi Jim,
To say, “Matter is not real,” is one thing. To actually understand it and prove it is another. I, for one, have much to gain in understanding to fully understand and prove it. Learning to not fear enemies, but to love them instead, is a major part of making this demonstration.
The enemy for me is the lack of faith, temptation of selfish motives, the darkness of attitude toward cynicism, the ignorance of ego and the disregard for accepting responsibility which vanishes under the light (truth) of divine principle of Love.
Why formulate “an enemy,” then hate him/her/it, thus making a false God
to rule over us? This breaks the first commandment to love and honor God
alone. (Or to try to fit matter into infinite Spirit, Jim. Can’t be done, logically.)
God made man. (This must include both candidates, no matter what may be ‘thought.’)
I am praying to more clearly recognize (honor)
the Truth… “on earth as in heaven,”
and I appreciate all help in this “seeming debate”!”
So clearly stated..”why formulate an enemy”
Brilliant…. you have a way of cutting to the chase…
Love this from the Message, Evan! Thank YOu! For me, it’s kinda like what Michelle Obama said: “When they go Low, we go High!” I think we’re all learning with this crazy election in the U.S. not to go down and fight with error or evil on it’s own turf, but to stay above it and keep reaching for the Best, the Truth! Onward and Upward!!
Thank you Bill, Joseph and Jim for the simple yet profound comments. The activities and presentation of mortal mind beliefs upon the world stage is an extremely aggressive hypnotic suggestion. A person existing in America, fooled by these beliefs, will most likely think America is the greatest country in the world…It is not, in fact it,along with most others, is probably the most corrupt and dangerous because of its entrenchment in false belief of the illusion.
“In an empire of lies, Truth becomes treason”
Now this is the greatest, and perhaps the most difficult, opportunity for Christian Scientist and other seekers of Truth around the world to test their”Mettle”. Technology has increased the spread of this truly amazing aggressive lie which is attempting to perpetuate its false reality for all perpetuity …..Knowing the whole false reality is in fact an illusion gives us a “Leg Up”, so anything we can do to demonstrate Love and Truth will immediately dispel the lie within ourself and serve as an example to others on how to live in Love and Peace and Health, and we shall be known by our works. So the puzzle…The world is in dire straights and none of its appearance is real…
My enemy is discouragement – which I’m striving to see unreal since it’s not of God’s creating.
We all hold such strong decisive opinions about our election. I keep trying to focus on God.. I can only pray that Truth will be revealed. It is so obvious to me that one side has been living a lie while acting so self righteous but in truth is really very evil and has done and continues to grasp more power to govern us by their will. By their corrupt networking they have tried to hide the truth. However the truth is
getting out inspite of their huge control.
I have to put my trust in God to open the blind eyes to see what is really going on. Our love of religious freedom is under attack. Our laws are being shredded. I can only put our election in God’s pocket and know that Truth will be the victor.
Patty I appreciate your comments… it is surprising to us all how the work of Christian Science seems, at some point, to demand we come to terms with mortal mind belief and in doing so fulfills the promise of God thru Christ that we are capable of existence without separation from God… only false belief stands in the way of experiencing Truth…
Seems simple enough… change my belief and the world changes… should be easy…
I had a couple of enemies at work for a number of years. They made work harder and better. “Overcome evil with good.” In many ways, I should thank them. I don’t think I would have accomplished as much without their help. 🙂 One of them recently asked for forgiveness. I had forgiven him long before he asked.
In the perfect and true equation the values on either side of the = sign bring (unfold) correct balance. No plugging (forcing) is allowed to cover for any deficiency or unknown factor. “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” These are perfect equations. And these are proportional to our understanding that “God is All-in-all.”
Speaking of Jesus missionary work here on earth, Mary Baker Eddy further explained to all mankind: “He did life’s work aright not only in justice to himself, but in mercy to mortals,- to show them how to do theirs, but not to do it for them nor to relieve them of a single responsibility.” ( S&H, p.18:6-9)
Thank you, Evan for each and all lessons you share for each and all to experience more of God’s and man’s perfect being, already established.
Thank you
I loved this Bible as written in The Message. Thank you Evan.
oops! Bible passage as ……