Is loving your enemies a good thing ?

[Massimo2002]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

 

[ChristineM]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

People say it's good but personally i cannot see how it works.
How can anyone love a paedophile, a rapist, a sex trafficker etc

 

[an anarchist]

Excellent question.

Is there room in your heart for pity/love for Hitler? I don’t suppose so. And that’s ok, right?

Hitler is the archetype of bad man. If we cannot love him, then perhaps that shows we cannot/should not always unconditionally love.

But most of our enemies are not Hitler. Try to apply the teaching to your day to day life perhaps? Perhaps for a Republican, they can love the Democrat, and vice versa.

 

[PureX]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

The actual admonishment, I believe, was to love God, ourselves, and each other in equal measure. To forgive both God and others as we would wish to be forgiven. To be kind to others as we would hope they would be kind to us. And to be generous with others as we would want them to be generous with us.

There is nothing about allowing others to harm us, or to harm anyone else. And I think the "turn the other cheek" quote is often misunderstood when it's interpreted too literally. (As is true of much of scripture.) I say this because no one is being spiritually served by literally turning the other cheek to them after they have just struck us. That would only encourage their sinfulness.

 

[Stevicus]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

I found that difficult to understand myself. Perhaps it's more a matter of making peace with one's enemies and forgiving them for their transgressions. My impression is that it's told in the context of the belief that people who hurt and kill others will be punished by eternal torment in hell, while those who keep faith in God and refrain from hurting/killing others will be rewarded in heaven. Even loving those who are trying to kill you might be seen as some kind of godly act of faith. Something that Christ might do (as he forgave those who crucified him).

 

[Frank Buffalo]

I think it makes good common sense to be wary of your enemies. Loving someone who has hurt you badly doesn't make common sense, unless you've had a longtime rapport with someone and you think the relationship can be turned around somehow into something good. Even looking at this biblically, I never got the sense that Jesus loved satan. God oftentimes massacred people who disrespected him.

 

[osgart]

To me love your enemies means give them what they truthfully deserve so they can see who they are and what their actions represent. Giving them according to what virtue necessitates they get.

I hope it don't mean giving them sweeties, and tender mercies as if they didn't do anything severely wrong when they did. That would defeat the purpose of any justice redemption, and rehabilitation.

I think the idea of eternal hell is supposed to be their last chance sign post to correct themselves under the supposed will of God. And the followers of God, having eternal life must forgive those who have not God, for the sake of them to repent, and transform. Let God be the judge, and forgive in the face of loss, damage, and death.

It's the idea that you must love the soul, and despise the doings of the soul whom is your enemy. Reaching through the fire to open their hearts to this Lord. The Bible says those who love their lives shall lose them, and those who hate their lives shall gain new life. Living for the eternal life hereafter at all costs in this life if must be.

Supposedly Christians first priority is God, and second priority is to spread salvation at all costs if necessary. Living quietly, working with your hands, being modest, humble and living within your means. There's nothing in the Bible that wants you to gain prosperity, wealth and riches in this world. Anything beyond necessity is avarice. So like planting the seeds of the Gospel to the world without God is their mission. Loving their enemies is not necessarily a suicide mission. It's
about drawing people to Christ, not using intimidation, nor any kind of pressure tactics. However the Bible is all about warnings, and the free gift. Freely given to even the uttermost sinner at repentant submission.

Personally I think it's a horrible way to live, full of delusion, and self deception. Even if there's eternal justice, life, joy, peace, and love I think this is the falsest message to send to people.

The first attitude about human nature that this God makes is that all of humanity deserves eternal hell; believers included. In and of themselves people can do no good, and are totally incapable of true love.

 

[Massimo2002]

The actual admonishment, I believe, was to love God, ourselves, and each other in equal measure. To forgive both God and others as we would wish to be forgiven. To be kind to others as we would hope they would be kind to us. And to be generous with others as we would want them to be generous with us.

There is nothing about allowing others to harm us, or to harm anyone else. And I think the "turn the other cheek" quote is often misunderstood when it's interpreted too literally. (As is true of much of scripture.) I say this because no one is being spiritually served by literally turning the other cheek to them after they have just struck us. That would only encourage their sinfulness.

'there is nothing about allowing others to harm us, except for when it literally says that. but then it shouldn't be taken literally and means something completely different, because I say so'

 

[Massimo2002]

No because deciding not to retaliate wont magically change their minds and become your best friends, it'll just make you a pushover

 

[Mock Turtle]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

I don't think anyone has an obligation to love all others, especially when they might be behaving in full knowledge of what they do, and where such often harms, exploits, or demeans others. But hating, in my view, is something we should preferably avoid, since this is often as damaging to ourselves as we might hope it is for the subject of any hate.

 

[crossfire]

Here is the scripture in context:
Matt 5:43-48

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.​

 

[Balthazzar]

I've struggled with this for years. What does it mean to love your enemies? I don't know. Is it about general human compassion, empathy or sympathy? I've made habit of turning my cheek and while this may not prevent assault, it does help keep me guiltless, almost like an insurance policy for when or if it ever comes to a more violent stand against those who transgress. It also helps to shine a light on the conduct, separating one type from other types. I've heard for years on end that the line between love and hate is thin. I agree, so I love in as much as I'm able, while the hatred for those who stand against me builds up.

There's a time and place for everything. A time to love and a time to hate. There are limits to "loving" our enemies. Pray, forgive, endure, making every effort to walk in peace is not bad advice. It's difficult, but not bad. Justification is important enough to do these things. I guess it's when our enemies become so damaging that it threatens us or our loved ones beyond our capacity to refrain from standing against them more forcefully that it becomes a requirement. The endurance trains us in temperance and self-control, and all this motivates greater skill and resolve.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

I see that passage in the Bible as about two ideas:

1. Trust God. If God is protecting you, you have nothing to fear from violence. If God is providing for you, someone stealing from you will not cause scarcity.

2. Don't be prideful. Even if consorting with bad people harms your reputation among your peers, you shouldn't worry about that reputation. God knows your heart and that's all that matters. Go ahead and greet everyone when you see them on the street.


... so I think the passage relies heavily on the presumption that God is real and that Christian ideas about God are true.

 

[crossfire]

I don't think anyone has an obligation to love all others, especially when they might be behaving in full knowledge of what they do, and where such often harms, exploits, or demeans others. But hating, in my view, is something we should preferably avoid, since this is often as damaging to ourselves as we might hope it is for the subject of any hate.

Dhammapada 1:1-6

1. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

2. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.

3. "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who harbor such thoughts do not still their hatred.

4. "He abused me, he struck me, he overpowered me, he robbed me." Those who do not harbor such thoughts still their hatred.

5. Hatred is never appeased by hatred in this world. By non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is a law eternal.

6. There are those who do not realize that one day we all must die. But those who do realize this settle their quarrels.​

 

[Eddi]

Being full of hatred is not healthy

 

[crossfire]

I've struggled with this for years. What does it mean to love your enemies? I don't know. Is it about general human compassion, empathy or sympathy? I've made habit of turning my cheek and while this may not prevent assault, it does help keep me guiltless, almost like an insurance policy for when or if it ever comes to a more violent stand against those who transgress. It also helps to shine a light on the conduct, separating one type from other types. I've heard for years on end that the line between love and hate is thin. I agree, so I love in as much as I'm able, while the hatred for those who stand against me builds up.

There's a time and place for everything. A time to love and a time to hate. There are limits to "loving" our enemies. Pray, forgive, endure, making every effort to walk in peace is not bad advice. It's difficult, but not bad. Justification is important enough to do these things. I guess it's when our enemies become so damaging that it threatens us or our loved ones beyond our capacity to refrain from standing against them more forcefully that it becomes a requirement. The endurance trains us in temperance and self-control, and all this motivates greater skill and resolve.

Studying Buddhism helped me to understand Jesus's teachings. See Dhammapada 1:1-6 in post #14. I suspect that Jesus learned Buddhist teachings during the family's time in Egypt, namely in Alexandria.

 

[PureX]

I've struggled with this for years. What does it mean to love your enemies? I don't know. Is it about general human compassion, empathy or sympathy?

Yes, I think it is.

I've made habit of turning my cheek and while this may not prevent assault, it does help keep me guiltless, almost like an insurance policy for when or if it ever comes to a more violent stand against those who transgress.

I don't think 'turning the other cheek' means literally making yourself or others available for further harm. I think it's about maintaining that attitude of human compassion, empathy, and sympathy toward our tormentors even when their intentions and behaviors do not 'deserve' it. But in so doing, we need not contribute to their sins or crimes by being passively complicit. It is right and proper for us to stand against them in this intent and behavior. But not to do so with the same toxic intent or behavior as they have succumbed to.

It also helps to shine a light on the conduct, separating one type from other types. I've heard for years on end that the line between love and hate is thin. I agree, so I love in as much as I'm able, while the hatred for those who stand against me builds up.

There's a time and place for everything. A time to love and a time to hate. There are limits to "loving" our enemies. Pray, forgive, endure, making every effort to walk in peace is not bad advice.

Only because we are not perfect and we do not live in a perfect world. Yet, I do believe this is the ideal we need to strive for. Otherwise we are likely to fall into the sad state of becoming our enemies.

It's difficult, but not bad. Justification is important enough to do these things. I guess it's when our enemies become so damaging that it threatens us or our loved ones beyond our capacity to refrain from standing against them more forcefully that it becomes a requirement. The endurance trains us in temperance and self-control, and all this motivates greater skill and resolve.

 

[Balthazzar]

Studying Buddhism helped me to understand Jesus's teachings. See Dhammapada 1:1-6 in post #14. I suspect that Jesus learned Buddhist teachings during the family's time in Egypt, namely in Alexandria.

I agree and I follow similar precepts. For me, its training in temperance, patience, steadfastness, and resolve, but not without acknowledging the mechanics working in the background, those of illumination, justice and/or injustice made known, and the efforts made to remain peaceful even towards our enemies, owning less guilt than those who transgress our kindness and our aim for more peaceful relations.

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

is-loving-your-enemies-a-good-thing

I define enemy as one who intends you harm (malicious) or is indifferent to harming you (sociopathic), and love as the act of protecting, sharing resources, or otherwise promoting the well-being of another. Using those understandings, the answer is no. Enemies need to be avoided, not supported. The most I do for an enemy is to not retaliate unnecessarily, and I don't really do that for the enemy. I do that for myself.

I'd like to expand on this a bit:

Another poster mentioned turning the other cheek, which is another piece of scriptural advice I consider bad advice. It invites further violence.

And another scripture calls meekness blessed. Meekness is a poverty of spirit and an unwillingness to assert oneself when he should be showing some courage, confidence or fortitude.

In each of these cases, the believer must redefine words to make any of these make sense. Turning the other cheek becomes forgiving and meekness becomes humility.

Do you see a common thread running through them all? This is advice one gives to people he intends to exploit in order to have them stand down and accept it. This is what an enemy tells you to do and be. This is what the Sermon on the Mount was about. Be longsuffering the exploited are told, for your reward will be great and will come later, but not if you rise up. The appeal of such a religion to a person like Constantine becomes immediately apparent.

Christianity describes itself as a religion of love, but I see it as a religion of submission. It describes its god as loving, just, and merciful, but in the end, you obey its commandments or burn. There is no love, justice, or mercy in that - just authoritarianism and severe punishment incommensurate with any alleged sin and with no hope of appeal or parole.

 

[Twilight Hue]

And what exactly is loving your enemies ? Is it letting them hurt and kill you and others ? Or Is this a bad teaching ? Or am I looking at this wrong ?

I would do what nature naturally does in face of enemies flight or fight or maybe both.