Day 6: Love Your Enemy (28th July)

 

The Reading Today

• Daily Theme: Love Your Enemy
• Source Material: Mere Christianity

My Reflection

Today’s passage was a difficult and confronting read. Lewis tackles the heavy subject of loving our enemies in the context of war, punishment, and justice, writing:

"We may kill if necessary, but we must not hate and enjoy hating. We may punish if necessary, but we must not enjoy it."

I found myself wrestling with several questions while reading this. It raises profound moral dilemmas—particularly for those serving in the armed forces, who must face the conflict of stopping an enemy while attempting to guard their hearts against hatred.

Lewis makes a sharp distinction between emotional affection and moral goodwill. He stresses that loving an enemy does not mean forcing ourselves to feel fond of them or pretending their evil actions are "nice." Instead, it means desiring their ultimate good and reformation, rather than acting out of personal vengeance or malice.

It is a continual internal battle to pursue justice without allowing retribution and hatred to take root within us.

 

Why This Matters

This passage reminds us that justice and hatred are not the same thing. In a world where conflict and provocation are frequent, the challenge is to stand against wrong actions without allowing our own character to be corrupted by bitterness or the desire to destroy others.

My Action for Today

Today, when I feel provoked or wronged, I will separate the desire for a fair resolution from the impulse for personal revenge, focusing on keeping my own motives clean.

Reader Question

Do you find Lewis's distinction between duty/justice and personal hatred convincing, or does it feel difficult to separate the two in practice? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!