“Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

-Romans 12:21

Dear Friends:

We live in a time when evil actions are frequently in the headlines. Just last week, a gunman shot and killed Charlie Kirk, a young Republican, evangelical Christian leader, while he was having dialogue with students at a university in Utah. A couple of months ago, a Minnesota Democratic state representative and her husband were shot and killed in their home.

So far in 2025, there have been 11 school shootings in the United States, killing or injuring 42 students and teachers, averaging just over one shooting for each month of the year.[1]

Jesus also lived in a time when evil actions which killed people were prevalent. Every time Jesus and his disciples went to Jerusalem, they undoubtedly saw dozens of Jewish people dying slowly and painfully on Roman crosses for saying or doing something that upset the Roman authorities who ruled Israel with an iron fist.

In the midst of these evil actions by the Roman authorities, Jesus told his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be the children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:43-45).

Jesus practiced what he taught about praying for your enemies. When he was dying a long and painful death on a cross, he looked down and saw his enemies, the Jewish and Roman authorities who conspired to kill him, and prayed: “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

St. Paul illustrated this teaching and practice of Jesus when he said: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil …. Never avenge yourselves … for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, if your enemies are hungry feed them, if they are thirsty, give them something to drink … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17, 19-21).

In a time when he was surrounded by hate-filled enemies, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. taught his followers to follow Jesus and love their enemies. In his collection of sermons on Loving Your Enemies, Dr. King wrote: “Jesus said ‘love your enemies’ because love has within it a redemptive power that eventually transforms individuals…There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive but there is something about love that builds up and is creative. So, if you want to change the world, love your enemies.”

In his book Strength to Love, Dr. King wrote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

In a time of deep division and hatred in our country, faithful followers of Jesus will pray for their enemies and seek to overcome evil with good. Each of us will need to ask Jesus to guide us in applying his challenging teachings in our own situation.

Grace and Peace,

Dr. Kent Millard, President
United Theological Seminary
Dayton, Ohio

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[1] “Education Week’s 2025 School Shooting Tracker,” Edweek.org, updated September 15, 2025, https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-shootings-this-year-how-many-and-where/2025/01