How do you deal with your enemies spiritually?

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 ..." (Matthew 5:39 and 5:43-44) Christians are called to love those who despise us and persecute us. To follow in Christ's footsteps is to walk in the way of love.

rgj.com - Faith Forum: How should we deal with our enemies?

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How should we handle our enemy? How should we react when forced into a fight?

Should we treat an enemy with the spirit of compassion, love, forgiveness, reconciliation and kindness or with hatred, demonization, repulsion, vengeance, anger and distrust?

Should we feel happy and celebrate when we see the enemy harmed? Should we pray for the welfare of our enemy? Should we ignore the enemy or should we try to destroy the enemy?

We asked our panel of religious leaders the following question: What do your faith doctrines tell you about handling the enemy?

Here is what they have to say:

FORGIVE THEM

Charles T. Durante, Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno vicar general

The strongest and simplest Christian teaching on treatment of enemies is put forth by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44) Catholic Christian teaching would never condone hatred or vengeance. It does, however, uphold the right of a person to self-defense and to the defense of others against an unjust aggressor. In so doing, it does not at the same time negate this teaching of the gospel. They coexist, often in tension. On one hand, love of the enemy does not mandate allowing that enemy to destroy another; but on the other hand, love of the enemy cannot permit the enemy's life to be seen as less valuable than another. As Luke tells it, perhaps the words of Jesus as he died upon the cross give us the final answer: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

ONLY LOVE DISPELS HATE

Jikai' Phil Bryan, Buddhist Priest and Meditation Guide

Buddha said, "Only love dispels hate. This is the law, ancient and inexhaustible." (Byrom). Buddhist social teachings derive from loving-kindness leading to highest human potential. Actions, speech and intentions in loving kindness will eventually result in peace. Actions, speech, intentions in angry self-interest may "win" in the short term but "lose" any long-term peace. After my friend Jerry, a "medic," witnessed Vietnamese Buddhist monks walking calmly through heavy "firefights" in loving kindness, he became Buddhist. The Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh remember that every person has been our relative in prior births. Both reflect this truth in attitudes of loving kindness toward those who drove them from Tibet and Vietnam. We are ultimately one family on Earth. Buddhism is not easy to "live by" when hostilities are present, but with loving kindness as our "light," we can regard "enemies" ultimately as friends in peace.

LOVE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, LONG-SUFFERING

Sharla S. Hales, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints area public affairs director The way we treat others is the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His message centers on love, compassion, forgiveness and long-suffering. These qualities enable us to deal kindly with others, even our enemies. Christ admonished:

• "Be reconciled to thy brother."

• "Agree with thine adversary quickly."

• "Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." • "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5) With love, our enemies may become our friends. Such love requires reliance on God: "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ." (Moroni 7:48)

Loving our enemies and protecting ourselves are not incompatible.

SPIRITUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH

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ElizaBeth W. Beyer, N. Tahoe Hebrew Congregation & Temple Beth Or rabbi

In the case of an "enemy," who is unkind or mean, rather than one who physically tries to harm us, we need to shift our perspective. If we meet hate with hate, react with anger, call for punishment, it will return to us. Avoid a "reactive" tongue; avoid a war of self-justification and avoid seeking revenge. Protect yourself and fight, only if necessary to avoid the enemy accruing a hefty "spiritual debt." We are to help our enemies when they need it, to help us become better people. (Exodus 23:5, Bava Metza 32b, "You Are What You Hate: A Spiritually Productive Approach to Enemies") Generally, a spiritual path is about ego-transcendence. Thus, our goal would be to try to understand how enemies see the world and why they view it and us the way they do. Each step dissolves another layer. Humility is a sign we successfully passed the test.

OFFER A SACRIFICE OF LOVE

Stephen R. Karcher, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church presiding priest

Our doctrine of faith is Christ himself who teaches: "Love your enemies, do good and lend." So we live in a way that our love doesn't distinguish between friends and enemies, and we expect good things from God in return, "give, and it will be given to you: good measure, and running over," and "your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High." Our God is kind to all. We are to imitate: "Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil." Paraphrasing a fourth-century writer, Christians are those who love all people, whether friends or enemies; do good even to those who do them evil; have minds free from malice; always honest, never lying; superior to no one and humble toward everyone. Christ's precepts are beautiful and simple to understand but very hard to follow.

ENEMIES AS FRIENDS

Bradley S. Corbin, Bahá'í teacher

"Recognize your enemies as friends, and consider those who wish you evil as the wishers of good." — Abdu'l-Baha. We have no right to look upon any of our fellow mortals as evil. We should never speak disparagingly of others and act in such a way that we may be free from hatred and not offend anyone, turning all our thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts. Consider that Paul, the apostle, was in his early life, an enemy of Christ, then later he became his most faithful servant. The Jews once pronounced Jesus as an enemy of Moses, yet through the blessing of the New Testament, the Old Testament, the Torah, was translated into 600 different languages and spread throughout the world, evidence that Jesus loved Moses. So intense must be the spirit of love, that a stranger may find himself a friend, the enemy a true brother.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

Stephen B. Bond, senior pastor of Summit Christian Church, Sparks

Jesus advocated a revolutionary way to treat our enemies. "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ... 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 ..." (Matthew 5:39 and 5:43-44) Christians are called to love those who despise us and persecute us. To follow in Christ's footsteps is to walk in the way of love. The Apostle Peter made these observations about Jesus. "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." (1 Peter 2:23) This is a powerful example demonstrating how Christians are to respond to our enemies. Walking in Christ's ways is not easy — it can only be done with his power.

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TREAT YOUR ENEMIES MORALLY

Kenneth G. Lucey, UNR philosophy/religion professor

The question how one should treat enemies depends upon the moral question of how one ought to treat other people generally. Traditional religions take a similar attitude toward the treatment of other people, summarized in the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." An older rule, from Confucius, is called the silver rule: "Do not do unto others what you would not have done to yourself." These two rules sound similar, but they are not logically equivalent. Suppose someone is self-destructive and wants to end his life but does not want to commit suicide. He wants someone to kill him. The golden rule suggests he is allowed to kill others. Surely, that is morally wrong. Confucius' silver rule does not have that problem. So, the answer concerning how to treat one's enemies is: Don't do to them things you don't want done to yourself.

FORGIVE IF YOU CAN, BUT BE JUST AT ALL TIMES

Sherif A. Elfass, Northern Nevada Muslim Community president

Being the Creator and knower of the human nature, Allah requires Muslims to defend themselves and encourages forgiveness if possible but demands justice at all times, even when dealing with their enemy. Allah says in the Quran: "And those who, when tyranny strikes them, defend themselves, the recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever pardons and reconciles — he shall have his reward from Allah. And whoever avenges himself after having been wronged — those have not upon them any blame. The cause is only against the ones who wrong the people and tyrannize upon the Earth without right. Those will have a painful punishment." [42:39-42] Also, "O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealings and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just, that is next to piety." [5:8]

Guest panelist

INITIATE CHANGE

Michael Zielinski, Salvation Army major

The Bible, the basis for Christian faith and practice, provides the following guidance on relationships with those considered an enemy: "You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies!" (Matthew 5:43-44) Love our enemies? As God provides his grace to each of us, we should show the same grace to our enemies. How? Romans 12:20 provides instruction: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink." Through the application of kindness, contact is maintained and an opportunity still exists to improve the relationship. In Christendom, we believe all can change, including our enemies, and be reconciled with God; however, the "plank" (Matthew 7:4) may need to be removed from our eye to initiate change. What lengths are you willing to go to reach your enemies?

Faith Forum is a weekly dialogue on religion coordinated by Rajan Zed. If you have any suggestions/comments on Faith Forum or you would like to have a question answered in a future Faith Forum, you can contact Rajan Zed at rajanzed@gmail.com.

rgj.com - Faith Forum: How should we deal with our enemies?

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