Theos-Talk Archives (January 1997 Message tl00188)

Tom Robertson wrote:

> Jesus said, "you have heard that it was said by them of old, 'an eye for an
> eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'  But I say to you, 'love your enemies.'"  Did
> he mean to do away with justice and replace it with love, or might he have
> meant to balance the two?  Shouldn't love for others be balanced with
> standing up for one's own rights, or is it never right to be selfish in that
> way?  If love should rule over justice, does that mean that we should let
> others take advantage of us and trust that justice is inevitable?  Isn't
> revenge based on the quest for justice, and yet isn't it also the antithesis
> of love?  Does forgiveness mean being a doormat?

I think Jesus was speaking about vengeance versus love, not justice versus
love. Vengeance and justice are not the same.

You can make a stand and say something is wrong while being
forgiving. Forgiveness means not holding on to the hurt.

Not condoning is different from condemning. I agree with Liesel's quote of MLK
(paraphrased) "Hate the sin, but not the sinner." This doesn't mean you can't
be severe.

When Jesus drove out the money changers and chased them with a flail, He was
severe. He did not say, "Gee, I think you are wrong. Please stop it." Even so,
His anger was not directed to the persons - only their deeds.

For an excellent book on love with strictness, read "Autobiography of a Yogi"
by Paramahansa Yogananda. His guru was pretty stern, but not abusive.

Theosophical literature suggests Master M's style was stern, while the style
of Master K.H. was more mild. Both work if done rightly.