Do Good To Your Enemies

The exhortation to love your enemies is especially important for the self-appointed defenders of the orthodox faith, who have a presence on the internet. I have seen the propensity of some, especially in Old Calendar jurisdictions, to not only isolate themselves from others, but to consider others their enemies. In doing so they publicly and malevolently attack others in the name of righteousness. They do ignore that, though we may have enemies, and our God may have enemies, we are specifically instructed as to how to respond. 

Matthew 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect

Try doing good to your enemies, and in so doing, you will be more like the Christ you claim to defend.

I continue to pray for those who personally attack me publicly on the internet. I pray, and do not engage them. I do appeal to my priest and my bishop, not on my behalf, but on the behalf of others who must similarly endure the malevolent character assassination from other orthodox people. I pray for these clarions of hateful diatribe, but, rather than hope for their demise, I fear that the outcome may be that their own judgment will fall upon their own heads. May it not be so. May their hateful words be silenced by allowing the love of Christ to dwell richly within them. Only in this will they, themselves, find joy.