Loving our Enemies - Reflections on the Hardest Commandment Language- English

by Jim Forest

Not everything Jesus taught must be regarded as a commandment. Counsels on voluntary poverty or celibacy, for instance, have been seen as an option for a small minority of Christ’s followers. The same cannot be said about the love of enemies. This does not fall in the “if you would be perfect” category. It is, instead, basic Christianity, which Jesus taught through direct instruction, through parables, and by the example given with his own life. And yet it is undoubtedly the hardest commandment of all, one that runs counter to our natural inclinations. It is, as Jim Forest shows, a commandment that calls for prayer, discernment, and constant practice. Along with reflections drawn from scripture, the lives of the saints, and modern history, Forest offers “nine disciplines of active love,” including “praying for enemies,” “turning the other cheek,” “forgiveness,” and “recognizing Jesus in others,” that make the love of enemies, if not an easier task, then a goal worth striving toward in our daily lives.

Genres: Christian

Hardcover

First published September 10, 2014

About the author

Jim Forest is a writer, Orthodox Christian lay theologian, educator, and peace activist. As a young man, Jim served in the U.S. Navy, working with a meteorology unit at the U.S. Weather Bureau headquarters near Washington, D.C. It was during this period that he became a Catholic. After leaving the Navy, Jim joined the staff of the Catholic Worker community in Manhattan, working close with the founder, Dorothy Day, and for a time serving as managing editor of the journal she edited, The Catholic Worker.

In 1964, while working as a journalist for The Staten Island Advance, in his spare time he co-founded the Catholic Peace Fellowship, working closely with Tom Cornell. This became a full-time job for both of them in 1965, a time that coincided with deepening U.S. military engagement in Vietnam. The main focus of their work was counseling conscientious objectors.
In 1968, while Jim working as Vietnam Program Coordinator of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Jim and thirteen others, mainly Catholic clergy, broke into nine Milwaukee draft boards, removing and burning some of the files in a nearby park while holding a prayer service. Most members of the "Milwaukee Fourteen" served thirteen months in prison for their action.
In the late sixties and mid-seventies, Jim also worked with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, first as Vietnam Program coordinator and later as editor of Fellowship magazine. From 1977 through 1988, he was Secretary General of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, work which brought him to the Netherlands. He received the Peacemaker Award from Notre Dame University's Institute for International Peace Studies and the St. Marcellus Award from the Catholic Peace Fellowship.

In 1988, Forest was received into the Orthodox Church. Since 1989, he has been international secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship as well as editor of its quarterly journal, In Communion. Jim had a long-term friendship with Thomas Merton, who dedicated a book to him, Faith and Violence. Jim also accompanied the famed Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. He and his wife Nancy, a translator and writer, live in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.

Reviews

[Tomek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly wonderful book reflecting on loving our enemies and the strength of and required by nonviolence. It is filled with discussions on practice and philosophy, all illustrated through examples of how others have enacted this most difficult commandment in their own lives. However, rather than relying on examples of the extraordinary and the well-known, Forest chose individuals whom history forgot, thereby showing us how even simple acts of kindness and courage in the face of adversity have the power shine in the darkness. In so doing, we are reminded that we too, regardless of our past failures, our present fears, and future obstacles, can love our enemies, and in so doing transform ourselves, others, and the world entire.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A series of short essays on Jesus' call to love our enemies which I wish I had read earlier. An important book for a world full of fear, violence, and threats.

It's filled with commentaries on scripture texts, quotations from the church fathers and holy persons through the ages, and incredible stories about people who have lived out the call to love one's enemies.

I highly recommend it - together with Jim Forest's THE ROOT OF WAR IS FEAR.

[Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although written from an OrthodoxChristian perspective, this book offers much to those of any Christian persuasion on how to live peaceably with others—especially those we find it hard to live with peaceably. This is Not anEasy road and whether or not we choose to take these steps says more about us than it does about those we consider enemies. Worth your time and effort; it will change your perspective of how you view others. Highly recommended.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 out of 5 stars

[Wayne Northey]

Outstanding!

[Rosa Angelone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Called me out in the best way. Gave me some places to start. Allows for anger and imperfection. The writing is simple even if some of the ideas are not.

[Maria Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cried at the end

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if someone wants to read an introductory book on how does one live as a peacemaker or a pacifist, this is a good place to start. Some basic ideas as to what it means to try to live without engaging in violence in one's life. It is written from an Orthodox bent, but not written exclusively for Orthodox Christians.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving Our Enemies by Jim Forest was the summer reading book for Sunday catechism teachers at my parish. We discussed each section of the book over 2 evenings as it is divided into 2 sections: defining what constitutes an enemy and how one can love their enemies.

Overall, the book provided a lot of useful information for Christians of any stripe. He moves beyond the stereotypical definition of an enemy as a person antagonistic towards oneself and and breaks it down to just about anyone that we fear. Profoundly, he points out that often our greatest enemy is our self. His future chapters focus on this definition of enemy in the context of war time, relationships between family members and fear of those we may dislike because their ideology, race, clothing, religion, etc. may be different than one own.

One point of criticism in the book was the discussion of enemies during war. The author is a pacifist and believes that all Christians should take this approach when it comes time for war. While it is true that "Thou Shall Not Kill" is one of the Commandments, in the context of defense, killing can be justifiable. Consider the outcome of WWII if during the war all those who professed Christianity and thus as pacifists refused to serve in the armed forces. As the author does mention, dropping bibles over Germany would probably not have ended the war.

My favorite part of the book was the chapter on praying for enemies at the beginning of the second section of the book. I plan on incorporating it into my class in the coming Fall. I found the idea of thinking of people I regard as enemies and then praying for them to be rather profound, even though I already know I am supposed to love my enemies. I hope to encourage my students to do so as well. A highly worthwhile read.

[lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of the year, Loving Our Enemies: Reflections on the hardest commandment is very inspiring. Jim Forest has written a beautiful book that will encourage readers to follow the peacemaking example of Jesus of Nazareth.

For my complete review please visit light to read by.