The Enemy Complex

Why are we mortals always fighting? Though we pray for the day when strife will cease and wars will be no more, peace remains a far-off dream that shows little sign of coming true.

Conflict has bedevilled the human race right down the ages. One of the major troubles seems to be that mankind is roughly divided into two categories, two camps, factions, parties, call them what you will, they always represent the same pair of opposites — the haves and the have-nots; the people who are in and the people who are out; the people who are sleek, self-satisfied and secure, and those who are poor, miserable, deprived and defeated. Throughout our human history, these two factions have been at enmity; threatening, attacking, defending.

Defeating Reactions

The primitive instinct to protect what we have, or to struggle and fight for what we have not, has created an enemy complex, from which almost all of us suffer to a greater or lesser degree. Through much bitter experience, we know that whether it be in conflict between ourselves and our neighbours, or warfare between classes, races or countries, the enemy attitude is destructive to anyone who cultivates it, and can only arouse and increase enmity. To harbour hate and bitterness, sets up an irritant within the system, which gnaws and corrodes our very being. The effect of our hostility upon our opponent is to provoke a reaction of revenge and increased antagonism. To pit force against force does not settle our troubles in any permanent way, and often produces a host of other problems.

Almost two thousand years ago, the One we have called the Prince of Peace made some astounding statements about enemies and the way to deal with them. Many of us have fallen into the mistake of regarding his precepts as advocating extreme passivity. This is because we have not penetrated to their deeper meaning; indeed, we cannot do so until we understand something of the underlying science that prompted Him not merely to say these things, but actually to do them.

The method of dealing with enemies which he advocated and practised was the very opposite of weakness; it could only be accomplished by Power.

Power through Focus

This was the secret of Christ: He made himself a focus of Power. He was a master of Power. He lived surrounded by enemies, all thirsting for his blood; but by that convincing Power, the authority within himself, he passed through their midst, unscathed, day by day, taking his own way, undeterred by their malice.

We have not developed that power which comes from focus. Christ’s whole life was focused in purpose - ‘I came not to do my own will but the Will of Him that sent me’. It may well be said of Him that he was at one with the principles at the heart of the Cosmos - that system of vital, creative order that constitutes a universe - something that turns as one. Through his singleness of purpose, he had become so one with the Spirit of Life he called ‘Father’ that he was able to bring the Power of Life through himself and direct it.

But most of us are unfocused, indefinite in our aims, often inwardly in a state of indecision and conflict. Our lives are not based on any definite principle, and minus that point of focus we exist in a kind of blur. A hazy, indefinite film in a projector makes for lack of definition on the screen and exactly the same result is true with ourselves. This is why, when faced with an awkward situation, we are so often unconvincing, and either make a show of force, or, feeling weak, resort to some form of self-protection.

Christ made no attempt to protect himself. He convincingly proved by his conduct that the mere saving of himself from suffering and dying was alien to his purpose. Such was his Power that force could not overwhelm him until he chose to give himself up to his enemies.

Christ’s secret of peace-making can be summed up in the words: Have Power in yourselves. Should we have doubts about our being able to possess that inner Power that can triumph without force, we have that well-nigh incredible assurance: ‘Greater works than these shall ye do’.


Ian Fearn

© New Renasence Trust (Registered Charity No 256640)