This site is designed to investigate the historic, Christian practice of loving one’s enemies. All are invited to participate and work with us to discover truth with regard to this vital subject. Please read our purpose statement. Note: this site is not associated with any ministry, denomination, or college though we have sought to pull together the very best of what is available from the early Christian writings, historic Anabaptism, as well as many other authors from the last couple of centuries (i.e. Leo Tolstoy).
Scriptures:
Each post includes one text which bears on the subject. The Scripture reference is the title. The post begins with quoting the verses in the title. Next the poster writes a commentary to flesh out the implications that this text brings to our study on loving our enemies.
Early Christian Writings:
Each post includes quotations from the Ante-Nicene Fathers. The reference will be the title. Each post includes quotation and dates from each author.
Difficult Questions:
The question posed will be the title of each post. The issues in this category include various applications of the Scriptural and historical research. Questions could include “Should Christians be in the military?” “Is self-defense ever justified?” “Does pacifism imply non-participation in all government institutions?” and so on.
Counter Arguments:
The post title will be a short phrase identifying the argument against pacifism (eg. Just War Theory). It is important that the poster does not mis-represent the view they intend to defeat. Straw-man arguments don’t help anyone. Please summarize the argument against pacifism and then analyze it and respond.
Audios and Videos:
Free mp3s of people talking about pacifism and issues related to it. If you have a good lecture or sermon on pacifism please drop a link to it under Feedback.
Anabaptist Literature:
The post title contains the name of the person who is being considered. The body of the post will be filled with a quotation from a member of the radical reformation followed by commentary.
Heroes of Non-Resistance:
Each post will be titled by the person’s name. Next any relevant quotations from historical sources will be made. Last, the poster provides how this person demonstrates the doctrine of non-resistance. It is likely that many of the historical people in this category will be martyrs but this is not necessary to qualify.
Quotes:
The title will be a short phrase expressing the major point of the quotation. Please cite the source and make available any web links that may apply.
Articles on Pacifism:
Here is where one can find a variety of articles that address various issues related to Jesus’ radical command to love one’s enemies that do not fit into the categories listed above.
Online Books:
Books here can be read online and are free from copyright restrictions. Examples include, The Kingdom of God is Within You by Leo Tolstoy, War Inconsistent with the Religion of Jesus Christ by David Low Dodge, and The Early Christian Attitude to War by C. J. Cadoux. If you know of an e-book that we should add, please let us know by going to our feedback section.
Books:
A listing of recommended books on this important subject. While there may not be agreement on every point raised by each author, these books capture much of the heart of Jesus’ command to love ones enemies. Short description and online ordering information included.
nice menu
By: johnpaul on April 25, 2007
at 9:56 am
Thank you for addressing this very important issue. It is a topic that should be of great interest and concern for anyone desiring to observe and obey the teaching of the Lord Jesus Messiah.
If I may, I would like to recommend two books that I have found valuable on this subject for your consideration.
1. Militia Christi: The Christian Religion and the Military in the First Three Centuries by Adolf Harnack.
2. Christian Attitudes Toward War and Peace: A Historical Survey and Critical Re-evaluation by Roland H. Bainton.
By: Matthias on February 15, 2008
at 11:16 pm
I am looking for short stories (true ones), real illustrations of people who have followed Jesus’ teaching to love enemies. Current stories would be best, but historical ones would be okay.
Can you help me?
By: Nancy Short on July 22, 2008
at 1:16 pm
We don’t have a section for this on our website. I seem to remember David Bercot’s book mentioning a few such stories. If you track any down, let us know and we’ll post them under the Heroes of Non-Resistance section.
By: sean on July 22, 2008
at 10:21 pm
Sean,
Is there any way that we can start a new thread in the “Scriptures” section? If not, can you start a thread quoting John 8:1-11? I’d like to start a discussion on this passage. Thanks.
By: Matthew Marcus on July 30, 2008
at 5:24 pm
Matthew,
The story of the adulterous woman is a later addition which was not in any of the original manuscripts. It is a good story and may even be historically accurate but we have no way of telling.
By: Sean on July 31, 2008
at 7:44 am
Sean,
But its in the King James Version!!!
By: John Paul on August 1, 2008
at 6:26 pm
Sadly, it’s in every version although all of the translators know it was not in the earliest copies.
We can certainly discuss it if you want, but I’m not sure what it has to do with loving your enemies.
By: sean on August 4, 2008
at 8:53 pm
I am the publishing manager for a new small Anabaptist publisher. We have just released our first two books.
The theme of our publishing is “Overcoming Evil with Good.”
Overcoming Evil God’s Way by Stephen Russell gives many every day examples of people who loved their enemies both in the past and in the present.
http://christianlearning.org/OvercomingEvilGodsWay.html
http://christianlearning.org/AnnieFunkLivedtoServeDaredtoSacrifice.html
By: Ernest Eby on September 2, 2008
at 8:14 pm
Sean:
Please contact me about how we can promote these books. Thanks, Ernest
By: Ernest Eby on September 2, 2008
at 8:14 pm
Ernest,
I’d love to have your books in our Books section. I’ll email you to follow up on this.
grace & peace
By: sean on September 2, 2008
at 9:22 pm
Thought you might be interested in the book I just published on loving your enemies and overcoming evil with good. It is called “Life in Death: A Journey From Terrorism To Triumph” and it is about the death of my brother on the terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988 and how I am overcoming evil by serving the people of the country responsible.
By: Lisa Gibson on November 11, 2008
at 6:18 pm
Greetings to one and all,
To Nancy,
You were “looking for short stories (true ones), real illustrations of people who have followed Jesus’ teaching to love enemies”
I have just finished my blog on Love your enemies, a personal journey on loving my enemies at http://www.whatseestthou.blogspot.com/
but in order to get a bigger picture to what i was talking about, please also read my family’s testimonial at http://www.crossofjesuschrist.com
We went through most of our lives trying our best not to “hate our enemies” and that is already hard enough but when it comes to loving your enemies, it is a gift from God our dear Lord Jesus Christ.
Ask and it shall be given, seek and you shall find.
God speed,
Genesis
By: Genesis Yew on November 21, 2008
at 7:01 am
Since this blog is about nonviolence and pacifism in the name of Jesus, I came to a rather frightening quandary for mainline Christian denominations. I was reading a terrific book that came out a few years ago by Thomas Merton, who was a Catholic monk in Kentucky, and had several best-sellers in the 1950’s. In the early 1960’s he wrote a book about the Cold War, which was at a fever pitch with fallout shelters and such, but his Abbot in France told him not to further it or publish it and quit writing about the topic. –Well. it was published in 2004 called “Peace In the Post-Christian Era.” It is an excellent, excellent theology of the problems of that early nuclear age, and nearly everything he writes is relevant today.
In it, he pointed out the irony that the nuclear nations at that time were nations make up mostly of Christians who were developing a policy of deterrence. What a shame it would be if they were the ones who destroyed the earth.
So it led me to this question, quandary—Since it is largely the Christian nations with the weapons of mass destruction, and if humans destroy the earth with their weapons, did Jesus’ cross really redeem the world? (Catholics use this response in their Stations of the Cross liturgy, and I think several other denominations also use the saying and profess it in their faith or creed.)
Perhaps that is one for very high Church leadership, since they seem to be stuck on the thought that Augustine’s Just War is still possible.
By: SteveA on April 17, 2009
at 9:06 pm