Jesus commanded, “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44). How do you pray for an authoritarian ruler who is associated with atrocious and horrific crimes against humanity? I’ve been asking myself. Then an answer came.
Prayer is not about approving what another person is doing or overlooking an evil and pretending it doesn’t need correcting. Prayer is about seeing and discovering spiritual reality.
To pray for a person who appears to be an evil enemy, is to see him in the light of spiritual reality.
For instance, if I spend time feeling anger and resentment toward another person, I am giving him power in the form of an evil mind to commit evil acts. I am not seeing spiritual reality. I am getting mentally lost in unreality. I am entertaining the belief that there is an evil mind at work in the world that is bigger than God.
The spiritual demand is to correct this lie with spiritual truth. To see that there is no evil mind that can prevail against the one Mind of God, for God is the one and only Mind! And God is a Mind of Love.
To love a ruler perceived to be evil, is to love him with the spiritual truth that he does not have a mind of his own to act against God’s will. He has no power at all. As a mortal, he is mindless, helpless. He does not have legitimate power to influence people in a harmful direction or deprive mankind of its right to self-government under God’s government.
Mary Baker Eddy wrote, “We must learn that evil is the awful deception and unreality of existence” (Science and Health, p. 207). With the war in Ukraine, I daily pray to not be deceived by evil, but to stay clear on the supremacy of the one Mind of Love over all that can bring peace to that land. Eddy also wrote, “God is not the creator of an evil mind. Indeed, evil is not Mind” (Science and Health, p. 207).
As humanity collectively understands that evil has no mind, and God is the one Mind of Love over all, evil rulers will vanish from the face of the earth.
‘Disarming an enemy’:
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/2aqp3yr360y?s=e
Just what I needed Angie, thanks for posting this!
Such a wonderful article from which we can learn how to love our socalled enemies through praying and listening to God.
Thanks for the Link dear Angie!
Evan, this is so helpful! Many of us have been struggling with this issue. We’ve sincerely wanted to make progress and truly love all those involved.
I am now recalling Christ Jesus own response to Pilate in our Bible Lesson of
June 17th. “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” (John 19:11).
And we all know that Jesus was triumphant. He fulfilled his mission. He glorified God.
Thank you, and bless this work you are doing for us and the world.
Judy
I need to work more on this subject as for 2 years I have a neighbour who makes a lots of noise at night and despite I asked her many times to take care of her surroudings, her behaviour doesn’t really change. I have hard time to think spiritually in this situation and not to link the problem with a person…
DT it is challenging, but I’m slowly learning that it is so important to impersonalize error. You’re on the right track as you realize, “not to link the problem with a person.” You can know that there is no power that can deprive you of your Peace, which is provided by God without interruption. Blessings to you.
Evan thanks for discussing how to love what appears evil. I will repeat here a comment I left a few weeks ago when our topic also involved how to pray about the war (What’s Never Destroyed, 4/6), because it seems to apply today as well, pardon the repetition, “God, good made every one of us, including those that appear to be demonstrating evil. It’s not popular to say that we should pray for those who are called tyrants and despots, but as students of Christian Science, who else is equipped to see and state the truth that God never created a tyrant, never created beings that are attracted to war, violence, material gains, human power. He created beings drawn to Peace, Love, Harmony. The appearance of error can be neutralized by remembering and claiming what constitutes the child of God, every child of God, even the ones we want to hate materially. That’s a powerful prayer.”
Dear DT,
As i had nearly the same problem with a neighbor, once a good Scientist friend said to me, I should just know, that there is only a neighborhood of Love. I did that prayerfully and it helped me, not anymore to be angry about that neighbor, and i saw her as God’s dear child.
Very helpful ideas, thank you for sharing Evan.
Thank you Evan! This is so helpful to see evil as powerless. I also loved the article that Angie posted. Our collective prayers are powerful as we stand with the the only real power governing man and the universe- Love!
Thank you Evan, for sharing this ideas,I’m so inspired.
Thank you Evan. I am always so grateful for your conviction and clarity of the Truth!
I PRAY THAT THEY MAY FEEL THE PEACE AND LOVE THAT IS PRESENT WITH THEM ..
Thank you for that well-needed truth. This is very helpful.
i indeed have been wondering about this too ….asking to see only the man of God,s creation,..good and full of love…………asking for a saul to paul situation to happen…in the mean time a lot of water has gone under the bridge and i try not to be dragged under too, with the same prayers of recognising only good,God as the only power..
what about that water full of innocent bodies…..how do we reconcile that to their beloved ones”’? i can pray to see above but what can i say to them???
can you help me with this please evan?
Dear, I’m not Evan, but wanted to share – take a step back from the aggressive material appearance, and really KNOW life is eternal. It never ends. These pictures are trying hard to convince us that evil is real, and God is helpless. In reality, there is no material life to lose.
If you did happen to be in a situation to speak with those families, you might share that God is present and caring for each and every person. They may be gone from here, but they have eternal life with God, embraced in divine Love.
Hi Alex, it seems daunting to the human sense. But what about our recent Bible Lessons? We just had our Easter lesson on the very subject. To the human sense Christ Jesus was mercilessly killed, and for what? For helping all of mankind. If we stop there it’s all gloom and doom and death and evil wins. If we stop there we are stuck! But we don’t stop there. We know the rest of the story and we have to give that more of our attention, praise and honor. They could not kill him. If it’s true for Christ Jesus, it’s true for you, for me, for each one seeming to be caught up in this war. If we don’t follow through to the end of that example, we are being used as evils pawn, admitting it to be real. And this week’s lesson is full of the answer you are searching for, eternal life! It’s full of accounts of evil claims trying to make us believe in death, but every example ends in Life. God is our very Life, yesterday, today, and forever. It’s already true. We just need to accept it. We all can do this.
There is no above and below in God’s Loving care. It’s all God’s jurisdiction. God is already there being God, all; infinite Love, care, comfort and mercy. Holding everyone in his embrace.
Hi Alex…
I’ve struggled a lot with this issue, too. I’ve found that some of the ideas shared in this article, “Living under the justice of divine law” by James Spencer helpful. Here are a few excerpts that I think directly address the issue of the suffering of the innocent.
“Consider … an innocent child being stalked by a predator and murdered, … In such a tragic situation, one has to rely heavily on the Christian message. Jesus indicated that the sinless child-thought enters the kingdom of heaven. He said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14). He also said, “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” (John 8:51).
Others may see what appears to them to be a tragic scene. But to the innocent, the guiltless, the pure in heart, Jesus’ message is that they will see and experience Life.
… after a momentary fear, the innocent child can find full recompense in Love’s mothering care. One can be assured that the awful fear caused by malicious handling … is completely removed from the innocent child, without aftereffects.”
He also addresses the impact of these losses on those left here.
https://sentinel.christianscience.com/shared/view/1bcnpgl5m4a?s=copylink
Thank you, Evan!!
Christ Jesus is our greatest example.
Jesus saw the real man of God’s creating right where sinning mortal man (and atrocities) seem to be. We like Jesus can overturn and replace the awfulness of war with beautiful images of Life, Truth and Divine Love. God ends war!
Evan ,thank you .
SH 17:7 Love is reflected in love
Did I, the one I, say it, know it,
experience it? When error speaks, nothing
has been said.
God’s thoughts, or ideas, are always from
the standpoint of the divine, the only I or
ME.
“God’s law is in three words, ‘I am All.’ ”
No and Yes, 30-11
John Hargreaves
Thank you for these wonderful thoughts to work with, Evan! We can’t heal a problem from a place of hatred or fear…we heal by seeing the unreality of any evil presentation and God’s dominion over all.
With all the political polarization that seems to be the state of the world these days, the story of Jonah has come to mind recently. God saw the possibility of redemption for the Ninevites…it wasn’t up to Jonah to decide that they were unredeemable and should be punished. It was Jonah’s duty to help them see their real nature as ” the perfect man, …where sinning mortal man appears to mortals.” (See S&H, pp 476, 477.) We’ll never heal the world’s problems by “heading toward Tarshish”…or reacting like mortals steeped in hatred, fear, and a desire for revenge…that’s the opposite direction from where we should be looking. By loving the real man instead of the man who seems to be our enemy, we’ll discover that, in a God-governed world, we have no enemies.
Thank you , this is very helpful.
These comments of MBE’s about evil are so definite, so clear and neutralising of the fear that evil and violent behaviour causes in the onlookers. It is hard for people to accept that evil is not real, but easier to accept that it cannot have power helps I think …like a “stepping stone idea” to the absolute statements by Eddy. This is because it is lawLESS and therefore without structure or meaning or direction. I love what you have written above Evan and we all need to do this in order to see change. Gandhi once said “(You) BE the change you want to see in the world” and we cannot demonstrate change and progress by running with the crowd’s reactive thought. We have to stand mentally AGAINST commonly held perceptions and look past that veil of lies that hides God’s pure child who was given an uncontaminated, intelligent, loving mind. Anything else is NOT supported by the self-existent One which includes all.
Thank you for these clear and helpful thoughts, Evan, and for all of the wonderful conversations and article. I will read the article, thank you!
The idea of a tyrant reminds me of something that just happened on Easter. We had one of our cars stolen and it ended up in pursuit with San Diego police department. It was totaled by the “thief” he had a head on collision with another vehicle. This whole ordeal was to say the least, crazy (illusionary like). It has brought about many opportunities for me to pray, by bringing truths to my mind about the situation and the man that stole our vehicle.
One helpful thought, from the 10 commandments: thou shall not steal. I find is so helpful to change the word “shall not” to “cannot” steal. Mortals cannot steal anything of substance from another. Substance is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. The thief could steal nothing of true value from our family. I can apply this idea to each of the Ten Commandments. God gives us everything of value and substance and mortal men and women cannot give or take that from us. We get all from God.
I have also been applying truths to forgive the man that “stole” our car. His soul is innocent. I like to think of him as a young child, before worldly beliefs were impressed upon him. My goal which I hope to finish next week- is to return the items of clothing he left in our car- to the police department-with a note: think you left these items in our car- I thought you may appreciate getting back. I will add a citation or verse but haven’t yet decided which one. I know I will be inspired by one. I may include a science and health. My hopes are that he experiences a sense of love from the act- something I’m not sure a person that steals cars in order to “gain” frequently experiences. I think of the idea that we sin until we realize that we are not gaining by sinning except gaining and adding to a bigger lie. I can be grateful that this man is working out his salvation (solutions) with God/good.
I am grateful for this forum. Thank you, Evan, and all, for your dedication to this daily task of providing church-the structure of truth and love each day.
praying to see only God’s innocent child and simply returning the clothes with nothing else would be wonderfully impersonal
-God will open the way
WELL SAID Well said! 😉
Thank you Evan and commenters for trying to address this. I will give you that everyone is receptive to Love as that is what all seek (which certainly makes it the most powerful and omnipotent power there is) but not everyone has a correct sense of Love thinking it is obtained with some pretty bad behavior as they do not understand what Love really is. Certainly they will learn but I suspect they do not see that as a present reality now as a war is going on. This false belief/sense of Love is certainly ridiculous. It is certainly something that is being learned by those that are engulfed in this situation. You learn there is no death when you walk through the valley of death and come out better for it. And I will give you that evil is not what is relevant to that experience. The freedom is very relevant. Although that freedom is available now, each person will see that freedom when they walk through the valley of death. Maybe you are saying that is the relevant fact making God omnipotent and supreme? Yes, I think you are correct about that. But, I still see the current situation as fermentation which is not pleasant. Putin is like a little kid learning to grow up and will learn what Love is. Those seemingly facing violence will learn what the real power is – God. Each person can chose not to bow to this false sense of so-called power and will once they see through it. Am I understanding you correctly?
Thank you again for the ideas you are sharing. I feel the Love/God-thoughts you are sharing.
Much love to you!
Thank you. Much appreciation for the clear understanding shared. Happy Friday! It is a beautiful day..
Thank you, Evan. It is comforting to know that as we love our brother whom we have seen, we can enlarge our tent to see the man of God “out there” whom we have not seen, but heard of doing terrible, horrible things. We all are learning that each victory over hate and fear, brings us closer to your central message, Evan….seeing the perfect child of God right where hate, lust for power, corruption seem to be. I’m so grateful for today’s Spirit View!!
What an extraordinarily rich morning feast we are sharing today… I know that we might have been disheartened to read the title, but we Christian Scientists have been given the ”key to the Kingdom” which unlocks such difficult suggestions, and have the Science which denounces, disarms and defeats permanently any tyrannical lie. Our two Great Lights have shown us the way. Walk in this Light, and know that this Light is EVERYWHERE. As many of you have already stated, most succinctly expressed by Mary Baker Eddy: ”God’s law is in three words: I AM ALL.”
I had a middle-of-the night urgent call about what appeared to be a critical medical situation, with the caller many hundred miles away from the one in crisis. I knew God was present with everyone concerned, found great comfort and support in so many resources we have at hand instantly, which immediately eradicated the fear which wanted to control the situation, including Hymn 350, which beautifully concludes ”All, all is well.” Indeed, all IS well, as i had a report hours later, that the caller had arrived, everything resolved, the person in crisis is well and now they are together rejoicing in his health and wellness.
I will try today to live under that Law and be that law in action. Thank you, Evan, for today’s spiritual blessing and this most heavenly conversation.
Matthew 18:21, 22. Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.”
Thank you so much, Evan, for posting this message of absolute Truth. The article Angie posted—thank you, Angie!—reminded me of an experience I had reading the Christian Science Bible lesson to the guests at a local homeless shelter many years ago.
As I sat at the desk in the small, windowless room tucked away at the end of a long hallway, one of the young men jumped up, apparently enraged by what he was hearing. A verbal barrage began— against me and Christian Science. It appeared he was about to overturn the bookcase close by or at least clear its shelves. I was unimpressed. I knew that I couldn’t be fooled by a loud voice, insults, erratic behavior and the threat of violence to believe this was God’s man. Obviously not! I insisted mentally that right there, in that moment, was the pure, innocent, calm and loved man of God’s creating, and I rejoiced in that fact. My comments and tone were loving, and he began to respond. He began to attend the Sunday Bible Lesson reading regularly, asking such good questions that indicated a sincere desire to know and understand the Truth. He was a joy to have in the group. We became friends. In fact, ours was the special friendship based on a mutual glimpse of the divine.
Months later, the shelter’s spiritual advisor tried to shut the CS program down, but my friend who had grown so much spiritually, told the individual that much good was being done through the Sunday reading of the Bible lesson. He lovingly corrected some of her misconceptions about Christian Science. Our program continued, and she and I would go on to have several mutually respectful and appreciative conversations. As Mrs. Eddy says, we really have no enemies.
Thank you for these thoughts, Evan, and everyone for your input – all helpful in uniting us in
our sincere prayers.
Yes, to really love someone
who seems to be evil is a hard thing to do, but to separate
the evil from the person, and to pray to see him as God is seeing him, and to love him as God is loving him as His pure idea, is what I am aiming at in my prayers for the situation in Ukraine/Russia As Evan says, we need to see the appearance of an evil man in the light of spiritual reality. So we are correcting our own thoughts about this man and bringing them into line with what we understand about God’s man, which is pure and perfect as God’s reflection.
We can pray to know also that we don’t have to try and correct
other people’s thoughts about the situation because that is
between God and His child, and it is the correct view that we
are praying to see for ourselves. God is giving us all our thoughts, and
a thought cannot think another thought alien to that pure
and perfect thought that God is imparting. to us. Anything
unlike God’s pure and good thoughts are just animal magnetism,
that would try and fool us into believing that what we see with our
eyes is a fact. We can therefore turn away from this awful
material picture, and refuse to be mesmerised by it.
Let the Christ shine out from our hearts, and “pour in Truth through floodtides of love”.(MBE)
I read an article yesterday, “There Is No Reality in War” by James A. Vincent
(Sentinel, January 27, 1940) which I found extremely helpful and uplifting.
Here is the link: https://sentinel.christianscience.com/issues/1940/1/42-22/there-is-no-reality-in-war?s=e
Perfect, can’t get enough of this Truth regarding the current apparent perpetrators of ugliness and war. Keep it flowing!
As Evan and all contributors have so insightfully expressed, the solution is to rise in thought and in prayer to see as God sees …. the true perspective of perfect man, perfect earth, and perfect universe There is only one reality and it is peaceful, loving, cooperative, harmless, harmonious. This seeming great red dragon of hate is mesmerism and has no reality or power. We must see that the kingdom of heaven is intact here and now.
So thankful to be a part of this collective affirmation of divine Love’s all power and presence.
Thank you so much for your marvellous post, Evan. I was really taken with the paragraph and thought: “To love a ruler perceived to be evil, is to love him with the spiritual truth that he does not have a mind of his own to act against God’s will. He has no power at all.”
Thank you, Angie, for the very inspirational article and to all the wonderful thoughts expressed in the comments. Very helpful for a number of situations. Love to all…
I am so grateful for this post today, Evan ! Thank you, thank you !
I just wanted to thank everyone for contributing to this ‘conversation of comments’ since I left my comment earlier.
Animal magnetism keeps wanting me to say “Yes but look at …” followed by all the atrocities reported in the news … followed by the reasons why it’s totally logical to want to hate the man … but this is so clearly mesmerism / aggressive mental suggestion. The outpouring of love in these comments, all expressed in slightly different ways but with the same message / Truth at their core, has been so helpful and uplifting for me.
It reminded me of this blog post I saw a while back by Pierre Pradervand about the need to ‘love Putin’:
https://gentleartofblessing.org/loving-vladimir-putin/
I don’t think Pierre refers to himself as a Christian Scientist (in his bio it says he has had articles published in the Monitor though), but labels aside, his post is exactly in line with the thoughts and ideas shared here – that Putin needs to be showered with unconditional Christy love if he is to break free of the mesmerism holding him in bondage.
Please feel free to remove this link if you don’t feel it appropriate in this discussion though.
Thank you again Evan, and the SpiritView ‘family’ for your love and inspiring posts.
I am very very thankful for your wonderfully metaphysical clarity – always – but now specially in your today`s SpiritView! I read it already 3 times, but that is not enough. Will surely read it many times more in order to take in, how you pray for the present error happening in the Ukraine. It is so very well understandable.
“God is not the creator of an evil mind. Indeed, evil is not Mind” SH p. 207. Specially this passage by Mrs. Eddy is so clear; it shows that there is but one omnipresent and omnipotent Mind, the all good God, which governs all His creation safely, wisely and lovingly. What commentors here say, Christ Jesus proved this by rendering evil as powerless a thousand times.
Dear Evan, thank you so very much for your helpful and healing SpiritView!
Am also very very grateful to you all, commenting here so inspired and interesting and also very helpful. This is a wonderful SpiritView Forum, as already said above here, and I love it very much!