Love your enemy? Matt 5:43-44?
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Jesus Christ said: “You heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you.”—Matthew 5:43, 44.\n\nIt was the oral tradition of the Jews that held that ‘hating an enemy’ was the right thing to do. Jesus, however, said we must love our enemy, not just our friend. This is difficult but not impossible. Loving an enemy does not mean liking all his ways or his deeds. The Greek word found in Matthew’s account is derived from a·ga′pe, which describes a love that acts in harmony with principle. The person who manifests a·ga′pe, principled love, does good even to an enemy who hates and mistreats him. Why? Because it is the way to imitate Christ, and it is the way to conquer hatred. One Greek scholar noted: “[A·ga′pe] enables us to conquer our natural tendency to anger and to bitterness.” \n\nThe Christian, by contrast, is under obligation to love his enemies, that is, those who make themselves personal enemies. Such love (Gr., a·ga′pe) is not sentimentality, based on mere personal attachment, as is usually thought of, but is a moral or social love based on deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty, and propriety, sincerely seeking the other’s good according to what is right. A·ga′pe (love) transcends personal enmities, never allowing these to cause one to abandon right principles and to retaliate in kind. As to those who oppose his Christian course and persecute him, doing so in ignorance, the servant of God will even pray for such that their eyes might be opened to see the truth concerning God and His purposes.—Mt 5:44.
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A wise man once said " keep your eyes on Jesus and do the next right thing" . Its not easy but every choice does count. In my experience I have grown closer to God by letting him fight for me: pray about it.
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Jesus Himself asked Peter, "Do you love me?   ...then feed my sheep!"\n\nLove is not turning our backs to our brothers and sisters who do not know Christ (though it often times involves less conflict and persecution). That is the opposite of love (and it is sad that such apathy toward the calling to share the Gospel often comes under the deceptive banner of "tolerance").
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I agree with you Snowflake...I think that Love is the most important thing of all. We shouldn't use scripture to beat each other on the head, just so we could be right! We are, as Christians, all a work in progress, and our goal should be to become closer to Jesus thru Bible study, prayers for one another, and do just as Jesus does....LOVE ONE ANOTHER!\nThere are so many religions in the world, and personal beliefs as well...how can any of us be 100% accurate in everything we believe? It's not possible...so we study and pray...and in that process, we learn tolerance for others who may not have even accepted basic truths yet. Jesus summed up the 10 Commandments into 2 basic ones; and if we lived those 2 Commandments, we'd have a loving world; instead of the one we now have...love of money and love of power, and hatred, and violence, and all the other evils we have in the world, created by not following these 2 Commandments of Christ. He said, "Love God with your whole heart," and secondly " Love your neighbor as yourself"...that is the whole law! \nAnd as you said, "..."YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THE LOVE THEY HAVE FOR ONE ANOTHER", "YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT"...that is so right on! When some "well intentioned" enthusiastic or zealous individuals or groups of people, "threaten" others that they are going to hell, point their finger at others who don't agree with them, tell them what and how to believe, whether in the churches or here on Yahoo, that is NOT what God intended, not what Jesus came and gave His life for..it is definitely the wrong approach to leading others to Christ..It is as you said, we should be drawing others to God, not sending them away! With some of the judgemental stuff I read on this forum, and other places, it is no wonder we have much confusion about Christianity...no wonder some people want no part of it. True Christianity is simply changing our own selves, showing true love for others, tolerance for others who don't believe exactly as we do...( who really knows if we are right about everything????) There are many false prophets in this world, and if we gently, and lovingly, by our examples of how we live, result in someone coming to Christ, the Heavens and Angels and God and Christ are rejoicing!!! I would rather do that, than "condemm" someone to "HELL", or judge another, or beat them into submission to accept what I believe. God wants us to come to Him and to Jesus, WILLINGLY! \nI'm coming to the end of my "sermon" ;~)....by saying that if we love all, even those who use scripture to put others down, we will pray for them, too. They need our prayers, too...as they need to overcome their "pride, their judging, and their self righteousness!"\nAmen!
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And people ask why Christianity is complicated.\n\nJesus Christ instructed us to forgive and even love our enemies. This is one of the most difficult teachings of Jesus to follow.\n\nForgiving and loving our enemies does not mean accepting or approving what they did. We also let the criminal justice system take its course.\n\nForgiving our enemies means that we hand our lust for vengeance over to God. We trust God will deal with the perpetrator. This trust in God actually helps us to heal and become happier people.\n\nLoving our enemies does not mean that we have to like them. It means that we want what is best for them. We really do want them to come to Christ and be redeemed.\n\nThis is especially true for someone who is sick and twisted. This person can be so sick that they do not even know what they did was wrong.\n\nQuestioning is way we grow in faith and wisdom. I think you are doing a great job. Keep the faith! \n\nFor better answers that I can give, take a look at Catholic Answers at: http://www.catholic.com/\n\nWith love in Christ.
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Yes of course, the enemy is always around to encourage you in your wrong doing and lack of knowledge of GOD's laws  and principles will surely make one fall prey to him. If any of the answers by any one coming through on this site are not in line with GOD's word in the bible{our road map and instructions for living in this life) it's because of bibical ignorance or demonic spirits are on the loose doing their assigned job by Satan to deceive as many people as possible,therefore, everyone should be careful and not take these answers as the GOSPEL.....
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Ro 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. \nRo 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. \nRo 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. \nASK ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO OK.
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hold up, isnt it the 5th commandment (i can never remember the order) that says "Thou shalt not kill"? so no the bible doesnt teach christians that they should fight holy wars and kill people who attack christianity, hell Jesus himself healed the bloke who had his ear chopped off when he came to arrest jesus (if ur a believer).\nbut im all for good entertainment so tell me what channel itl be on :)
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The following text is what it's all about for a Chrisitan.\n\n1 John 4\n7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. \n\n13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. \n        God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. \n\n19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.\n\nI have personally seen God work in my life, I have allowed him to lead me since I graduated college, and have ended up where I never would have believed.  He has answered my prayers in the past, he has given me guidance, I have seen him work through friends and family.  He has even graciously given me dreams in which angels have appeared to reaffirm my faith.  I love God, for I know him and know his love for me.\n\nRomans 1:20\nFor since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
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I generally despise Bible quotes as answers, but I think this one might be appropriate:\n\n(Exodus 32:27-29) and Moses told them, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Put your sword on your hip, everyone of you!  Now go up and down the camp, from gate to gate, and slay your kinsmen, your friends and neighbors!"  The Levites carried out the command of Moses, and that day there fell about three thousand of the people.  Then Moses said, "Today you have dedicated to the Lord, for you were against your own sons and kinsmen, to bring a blessing upon yourselves this day."\n\nMoses had 3,000 of his own people executed in one day.  What a wonderful person.  We should all be just like him ...\n\n... or maybe not.
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#  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34)\n \n#  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12) \n\n#"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7) \n\n#"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." (Proverbs 17:17)\n\n# "But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:17)\n \n# "Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law." (Romans 13:10) \n\nI think you have a cool idea and I hope this helps.
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Our enemy very much wants christians disabled, harmed, maimed and killed.  When I am down, oppressed, in difficult situations I've wondered why God gave me life.  He says in His Word that HE LOVES ME, but sometimes I don't believe it.  It is at these times I have wanted to die.  \n\nWhen I cry out to HIM, he rescues me in a variety of ways.  Most recently when I was in a situation when I questioned being around He gave me Ephesians 6:10 in a way that was significant, "Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord's mighty power within YOU!".  I was trying to find my own strength within me to get through.  He reminded me that strength is inside me, but it is HIS MIGHTY POWER?  With that kind of power invested in me I believed and got through the bad situation.\n\nYes, I have contemplated suicide and turned to God's Word, Holy Spirit, friends, family and church.  When I hurt, I run to SAFE place.  SAFE place is ALWAYS within me with Holy Spirit.\n\nAdditionally, I attend a church that dedicates Monday and Friday nights to a Growth and Healing community.  I've found comfort in learning ways to cope with oppression from the enemy that seeks to destroy my life in Christ and Freedom.  The class that helped me the most was based on a book called "Breaking the Power: of Unmet Needs, Unhealed Hurts, Unresolved Issues in Your Life!" by Liberty Savard.\n\nAnother resource I found helpful when I  travel away from a solid church family is radio ministry by David and Karin Mains.  As silly as it might sound, I've got a lot of encouragement from their trilogy of books called, "Kingdom Tales: Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance and Tales of the Restoration.  These are children's books that cover situations where there is struggle among christians battling and succeeding despite evil on lots of levels.\n\nGod has rescued me as SAVIOR again and again.  He is my place that protects me from myself when I do not want to live.  He brings me peace when I feel there can be no rest or peace.  I don't understand it, but God gets me through no matter how sad or down or upset I get.  He reliably gets me through in a variety of ways.  \n\nI believe many christians and non-christian struggle because of our enemy.  Following are some words by John Wimber regarding this.\n\n"None of this is to imply, however, the Christian life is a bowl of cherries. Once we place our trust in Christ, we are drafted into a fierce spiritual battle.  ...For example the enemy follows no rules of war. Satan considers nothing unfair; he is not a gentleman. ...\n\n"Although he follows no rules, we know Satan attacks on 3 fronts: through the flesh, world and direct assault.  ... \n\n"Our situation is similar to that of an underground army living in a land still occupied by a defeated enemy. Such was the French undergrounds role after D-Day during WW2. Though their eventual defeat was certain, The Germans were still capable of committing atrocities on French civilians. The 1984 arrest and trial of Klaus Barle illustrates how barbarios the Germans' acts were: knowing there was no hope for German victory, Barbie nevertheless tortured and murdered hundreds of French - including children.  He was nicknamed the Butcher of Lyon."\n\nE-mail me if you'd like to talk further.  I think you have a lot of folks who care about you! Perhaps more than you know or imagine.  Hope\n\nYOU matter to God. YOU are LOVED.  YOU are IMPORTANT.
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Hello ast5792.. :)\n\nMan is still crucifying Jesus even today..by denying His Love for them.. :(\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name.. \nWith Love..In Christ.. :)
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A gentle answer turns away wrath. Please be kind to your enemies.. and give answers in that love that you have for others. Pray for them that their eyes will be opened and see as you do. Only God can change a person's heart... they just don't want to understand... they may feel that way now but with love... you may sway some to find out the truth that you know.\n\nNo since in getting angry with them... we are to love our enemies and do good for those who hate us.
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Luke 6:27-36\n\n"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.\n\n"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
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People will hate you for the truth but, that's what they are supose to do.... keep sreading the word of God, Preach on Young Man and be not dismayed.....\n\n\nEzek 33:1-9\n1{Ezekiel as Israel's Watchman--} Once again a message came to me from the LORD:\n2"Son of man, give your people this message: When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose a watchman.\n3When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he blows the alarm to warn the people.\n4Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action-- well, it is their own fault if they die.\n5They heard the warning but wouldn't listen, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.\n6But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their deaths. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman accountable.\n7"Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.\n8If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to warn them about changing their ways, then they will die in their sins, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths.\n9But if you warn them to repent and they don't repent, they will die in their sins, but you will not be held responsible.\n(NLT)\n\nEzek 33:1-9\n1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\n2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:\n3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;\n4Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.\n5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.\n6But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.\n7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.\n8When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.\n9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.\n(KJV)
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Chrisitianity teaches us to love our enemies so that we can be examples of Christ. We as christians do not force our believes on other people. Some groups in the past tried to corrupt our image, for example the crusaders and catholic sects which cast shadows of violence and terrorism by forcefully "converting" non-belivers, jews to the religion. These people took the bible out of context and did not follow true christian principles. Jesus is Love, Peace, Joy and our Redeemer.\nBe Prepared.