The perfection of Revelation in the New Testament will bring tangible, revolutionary progress. The golden rule in dealing with others commands not merely avoidance of wrongdoing, but doing to others the good you would to be done to you: "So always treat others as you would like them to treat you" (Mt 7:12).
The law of love replaces the "lex talionis" (eye for eye, tooth for tooth), and brings about a revolution which demands love even of our enemies: "You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked ones no resistance... You have learned how it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I said this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Mt 5:38, 43-44).
Violence today
5. The harshness of the measures commanded by God in the Old Testament narratives to safeguard God's holiness and justice among humankind seems strange to us today. We maintain that today we have more appropriate ways of showing these same truths through writing, explanation, preaching, and the use of the best means available. There is no need for us to pronounce anathema, or declare a war of extermination against those who do not believe in God in order to convince ourselves or others of God's holiness, God's uniqueness, and of the need for God's law to be observed.
The law of love replaces the "lex talionis" (eye for eye, tooth for tooth), and brings about a revolution which demands love even of our enemies: "You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked ones no resistance... You have learned how it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I said this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (Mt 5:38, 43-44).
Violence today
5. The harshness of the measures commanded by God in the Old Testament narratives to safeguard God's holiness and justice among humankind seems strange to us today. We maintain that today we have more appropriate ways of showing these same truths through writing, explanation, preaching, and the use of the best means available. There is no need for us to pronounce anathema, or declare a war of extermination against those who do not believe in God in order to convince ourselves or others of God's holiness, God's uniqueness, and of the need for God's law to be observed.