Love Your Enemies

The teachings of Jesus and the example set by Mahatma Gandhi were the models that inspired Martin Luther King Jr.'s practice of non-violence as a means of effective protest.  Just as Jesus reinterpreted the biblical laws for the audience and culture of his day, King implemented modern practice their relevance for him and his contemporary audience. For King and others, Jesus' words were not meant to be taken literally as he understood their intent, and while not all Christians have followed his example, King replaced a natural inclination to retaliate with temperance and love.

Jesus’s intent in his own words were not to abandon God's Law handed down to Moses, but rather re-interpret them in light of contemporary realities. This did not lessen the challenge of ancient biblical texts for modern society as Jesus' own life was their incarnate fulfillment made relevant by his words and his behavior. (Matthew 5:38-48)

It was common practice to retaliate for harm done whether intentional and unintentional. This was supported by Old Testament readings and by the ancient Babylonian Code of Hammurabi, "an eye for an eye."  But Jesus admonishes followers not to oppose the evil doer violently but resist and “turn the other cheek.” Jesus alternative strategy was intended to overcome evil with good which had a paradoxical effect in that what was perceived as weakness, humiliated and shamed those in power. Many of us old enough to remember the reaction to Dr. King’s behavior by those “in power” who violently opposed him, recall how the oppressor who embodied the love of power was overcome by the power of love.

Loving unconditionally and forgiving one's enemy are not just models for our behavior but on a broader scale, representative of the perfection of God and his divine love.  As such, Jesus provides an intriguing image to capture the meaning of this quality of God and one that God's followers should strive to emulate. As a tree provides shade for all who sit below, God provides for the just and the unjust, and so we must treat others without bias whether "good" or "evil.