Page 157 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

A Portrait of a Christian Psychologist: Paul C. Vitz

the command to reject hating our enemies? It Nevertheless, love for our enemies seems to
should not come as a surprise that Jesus forba- be very difficult and rare. Jesus’ forgiveness of
de such hatred, but somehow we always tend to his enemies as exemplified in the events of his
forget and too often we go on hating anyway. passion constitutes a clear model of what we
However, hatred, in spite of the previously men- are called to do. Fortunately we are rarely given
tioned rewards provides only a temporary psy- such extreme tests and fortunately, we are not
chological sense of identity. The first problem expected to have the capacity to love our ene-
is likely to be that those we hate will hate us mies on the basis of our own moral strength.
and attack us in retaliation. This often sets up Instead, we are asked to love God first, for Chri-
an unending cycle of revenge which gives us an stians this means that the love of Jesus is the
identity at the cost of a calm and peaceful self. central fact enabling us to love others through
A second common problem is that hatred traps his gift of grace. Our identity is formed through
us in a mental prison in which we obsessively this love.
spend time and energy and thought fueling the And, let us not give up hope that this kind of
hatred, all of which reduces the freedom to love identity based on charity or self-giving love
others and grow in more positive ways. A third could change the world. For example, as a result
problem is that when we are filled with cultiva- of modern communication technology there is
ted anger and hate we often “bubble over” and reason to think that a psychology of love might
lash out at innocent bystanders creating ene- be able like yeast or salt to permeate the world.
mies by accident. Such anger also sets up in us Yeast and salt both have transforming effects
and others attitudes of cynicism and pessimism. one on bread and the other on most food, even
There are still other problems with hate but, though each ingredient is quite small compared
enough already; we all know that hatred and to the total. One reason for hope is the existing
violence create more of both and in the process Christian emphasis on love found in modest
trap and stunt us. amounts among the world’s over one billion
Now, let’s look at the psychological problem, na- Christians, this love is also often found in the
mely lack of identity, raised by rejecting hatred lives and attitudes a good number of secularists
of our enemies. Some other basis for identity and non-Christians as well. Thus love already
is needed and the answer is no doubt obvious. has a good start in much of the world.
Love, and by this is meant what is commonly There is also the obvious exhaustion of the mo-
known as self-giving love, is a positive basis dern agenda. Ideologies, such as Communism,
for identity and one that also generates itself in Socialism, Fascism and don’t forget Nationa-
interpersonal relationships as well as in social lism, all served to give so many people hate
and political interactions. Looking back at our based identities filled with hostility to other
previous 4 reasons for hating it is clear that a groups and that generated enormous violence
response involving love is quite possible in each seem to be fading away in much of the world.
instance. In place of self-pity and the victim Meanwhile so called postmodernism with its
role there is one of compassion and helping the skeptical, nihilistic anything goes mentality and
other. Certainly this is better and indeed more its consumerist moral relativism is beginning
rewarding than pathetic self-pity. In place of to look quite empty and for idealistic young
social and group support based on mutual ene- people most uninspiring. The present historical
mies there is social support based on a mutual and cultural period seems to be an end game
positive goal. In place of the energy and purpo- for modern and late modern ideas and values.
se given by hatred there is energy and purpose Along with many others I believe a major new
based on loving purposes and self-giving. Mo- era is just starting to show signs of its arrival.
ral superiority may build self-esteem but most Let us hope that self-giving love rather than
people find such moralistic people condescen- self-justifying hatred will be central to this new
ding, arrogant and pharisaical. A humble and historical period.
loving attitude in contrast is welcomed by all
and brings far more happiness and peace.

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