Never pay back evil with more evil.
~ Paul the Apostle, Romans 12:17, NLT
The best response to evil coming your way is a healing response.
Shut down any temptation to react in kind, listen for what God has to say about the situation, and respond with words and actions that neutralize the evil and get thought headed in a healthier direction. Respond with love, not with hate. Be a healer.
This hymn by Mary Baker Eddy is a lovely one to
keep in our thoughts all day:
Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing, / ’Neath which our spirits blend / Like brother birds, that soar and sing, / And on the same branch bend. / The arrow that doth wound the dove / Darts not from those who watch and love.
If thou the bending reed wouldst break / By thought or word unkind, / Pray that his spirit you partake, / Who loved and healed mankind: / Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain, / That make men one in love remain.
Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given / For faith to kiss, and know; / That greetings glorious from high heaven, / Whence joys supernal flow, / Come from that Love, divinely near, / Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,
Through God, who gave that word of might / Which swelled creation’s lay: / “Let there be light, and there was light.” / What chased the clouds away? / ’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud / A bow of promise on the cloud.
Thou to whose power our hope we give, / Free us from human strife. / Fed by Thy love divine we live, / For Love alone is Life; / And life most sweet, as heart to heart / Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 30:1–5)
Love this Maggie. ❣️
Thank you Maggie for reminding us of this beautiful and most appropriate hymn . B.x
Suddenly I see this hymn’s line “What chased the clouds away? ‘Twas Love whose finger traced aloud…” and realize that this is an answer to my concern every time I look up to the sky where I live and see some unnatural cloud-like (not condensation) dissolving into the air above our heads. I’ve been distressed and wondering how to pray about that, other than in a general way (which is also good, of course.) But I now see that this line not only can address clouds in a figurative way of speaking, but it can address the claim of literal “clouds” – neutralizing evil with the understanding (and practice of) Love, as per Evan’s wise and helpful reminder.
Thank you Evan for this wonderful and needed reminder, and thank you Maggie for posting the hymn, and thank each and everyone in the dear SV family for their insights and sharing.
It seems like our country and other places in
the world are in what could be considered in
a divorce. .
We have a healing statement read at
church that can heal this belief.
“Undivorced from Truth!
Uncontaminated and
Unfettered by human hypotheses
and divinely authorized..”
Seeing this as true , will bring a healed
world.
I love using this statement to settle thought.
That statement is a treatment we must give to the world and to our church! Thank you!
“Evil is utter deception” by DeWitt John. From the January 1984 issue of The Christian Science Journal:
https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1984/1/102-1/evil-is-utter-deception
(*This may/may not open completely for those without a subscription. If someone might be interested in attaching a shareable copy.)
What a wonderful article. How it demands that we don’t just be in the word but feel it, live it,.. go deep! Radical Truth.
Thank you very much J. Here is a shareable copy: https://journal.christianscience.com/shared/view/2pk3dqpd43g?s=copylink
Beatrice, thank you so much for attaching a shareable copy.
You are very welcome, J
JB says:
Thank you. That is so helpful,. I am going to include that in my morning prayer.
Thanks for this, reminds me of this from The Gentle Art of Blessing: “The minute anyone expresses the least aggression or unkindness to you, respond with a blessing: bless them totally, sincerely, joyfully, for such blessings are a shield which protects them from the ignorance of their misdeed, and deflects the arrow that was aimed at you.”
“deflects the arrow that was aimed at you” reminded me of this awesome testimony, where this statement became quite visible:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1bxl3kdp0hg?s=copylink
Wow – that really is awesome, D. Thank you for posting that. We really can put all our trust in God when evil seems to be assailing us, and in every way and everywhere we can know and trust that God is with us to protect and guide us.
I feel sure most of us have witnessed this in some more simple ways in our lives – but that testimony just shows how we need never fear evil if we trust implicitly in God’s ever-present loving care..
This is awesome AD…thank you for sharing !
There are no material ‘’’sides’’ either presumed right nor wrong . We are all equal, spiritual, precious and loved by God who is All . What wonderful proof of this we read in this testimony. B.x
Powerful article, thank you for sharing it AD.
Dear AD
Thank you for posting this article – having read it I see why fellow SpiritView-ers called it awesome. It has been particularly helpful as the British press has been reporting an incident of a strong young man viciously punching a female police officer in the face and I had been greatly distressed by this incident. This article has been so helpful in moving my thought forward & away from the seeming material hatred. Thank you AD and thank you Evan and all SpiritView family
What a truly Lovely message and graphic!! If the entire world and everyone
in it would express this Love to others, it certainly would neutralize evil with
good. The wonderful graphic reminds me of those little candy hearts at
Valentine’s Day (US) where words are written on them. If all of our words
and actions were given like innocent and sweet children’s valentines to
each other (as we are all universal children of God). there would be peace
everywhere and no resistance to the Truth, Love. Smiles of kindness would
rule the world and harmony would be as beautiful as all of those colorful
hearts melting together as one collective expression of divine unity.
How I love this post! Thank you so much, Evan. The picture also is wonderful!!
Thanks Beatrice, your comment just made me look closer at the picture above. Now I see that it is all hearts, all love, in every country of the world, in every nook and cranny just Love, Love, Love. That photo in itself is an affirmation of truth and a prayer, for that is how God sees his world and we can align our thought with that Truth. Blessings to all of my fellow SV travellers.
The tricky part here is to do as Evan suggests, “Listen for what God has to say about the situation,” before responding to what appears as evil or anger coming towards us. In the heat of such moments it can be challenging to STOP and listen, and not allow the seemingly automatic reactions come out of us, which may include trying to defend ourselves or prove we are right, raising our voices, running off in a huff, etc etc. Our human pride seems to get hurt, we actually feel that our very survival is threatened even though usually it is not. These are the common mortal, human reactions. But to wait on God, to listen and pray and ask for guidance, how wonderful will be our result.
Mrs. Eddy has a good piece in Misc Writings on ‘Taking Offense,’ p. 223-224.