Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.

Romans 12:14-17

Richard Rohr describes one of God’s most counterintuitive characteristics as being the way he “punishes” enemies by loving them more. In light of the fact that we are made in the image of God, then we are similarly designed — to deal with those who mistreat us by loving them more.

Paul must have been thinking along the same lines when he wrote these words found in Romans:

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them … Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.

Behaving this way toward enemies is rarely our first thought. It is far more common in our world to repay evil for evil. But it’s obvious that when we repay evil for evil, we become like the evil we claim to hate. Following Jesus requires us to learn how to resist evil without becoming like it.

When facing the unfairness, injustice, and cruelty in the world, it’s hard not write off this instruction as naïve and impractical. It’s hard enough to put this into practice in ordinary everyday relationships, but when we see horrible things like terrorist bombs viciously shredding people’s bodies and lives, it can be even more unfathomable. 

But I firmly believe that Jesus’ way of life includes a provision for resisting evil in all of its inhumane forms. God’s love is more than robust enough. His love always confronts evil without becoming like the evil it hates. To that end, I fervently pray for all us to embrace God’s kind of love, so that the evil we are called upon to resist does not infect our lives.

Questions for Reflection:

What do you do with Bible passages that don’t make sense or that seem unrealistic in light of everyday reality? In facing evil, what are characteristics of doing what is noble in the sight of all?

Prayer:

Almighty God, you know everything about evil and how best to confront it. Protect the body and soul of those who protect us from forces that seek to do evil in the world. And in my day-to-day existence, fortify me with a love that is worthy of you. Amen.

Context:

Romans 12:9-18

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.