Romans 12:14-21

“No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” vss. 21-22

One of the ways in which countries can gain control of others is through a process that has been called “immiseration,” the act of gaining victory through impoverishing one’s opponents. This can be done in a variety of ways: embargoes, blockades, tariffs, and cutting off water, food, and medical supplies. Currently it’s being used in a number of places around the globe with varying success. 

It’s doubtful that the apostle Paul or Jesus would have had high regard for immiseration at any level. They seemed to have the quaint notion that we should love our enemies, pray for them, feed them if they were hungry, and give them water when they were thirsty. But in these times, we seem to have decided that deprivation on every level is the best and quickest way to bring about change. Many parents have even found it useful in dealing with unruly children!

Granted, statecraft and parenting are complicated and sometimes there is a need for hard decisions, ones that take us beyond the scope of the Golden Rule. But there is no need to relish the pain that we are inflicting on others. And we too often forget that goodness really is the most powerful weapon we have in combatting evil.

Thought for the Day: Why are we unwilling to try Paul’s formula for overcoming evil?