FAITH EXPRESSED IN LOVE (WK 3): "Five Mississippi"

Some principles for ‘doing unto others’ who are strongly opposed to us include…

1| I do not want to be physically attacked, hurt or killed by my opponents. Therefore, I will not engage in violence against them.
2| I do not want people to dismiss what I believe as so obviously wrong that it is not worth a hearing. So I will take time to listen and to understand what my opponents are saying, even if I strongly disagree with them.
3| I do not want people to misrepresent or caricature what I write or say in order to win an argument. So I will state accurately and fairly what my opponents believe.
4| I do not want people to attack my character for being different from them. So I will not resort to character assassination in order to try to discredit my opponents.
5| I do not want people to assume that because I disagree with them I am motivated by selfishness or a desire for power. I will therefore not rush to judge the motives of my opponents.
6| I do not want people to try to silence me by threats, intimidation or coercion of any kind, or refuse to talk to me because I am morally obnoxious in their eyes. So I will treat my opponents with courtesy and respect.
7| I do not want people to be impervious to any damage their beliefs and attitudes are having on me or those I care about. Likewise, I will listen and be open to learn how my beliefs and attitudes may be injurious to
others.

Source: The Message of Love by Patrick Mitchel